Arts & Entertainment

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl Ticket Giveaway

June 19, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL is the uniquely funny, moving story of Greg (Thomas Mann), a high school senior who is trying to blend in anonymously, avoiding deeper relationships as a survival strategy for navigating the social minefield that is teenage life. He even describes his constant companion Earl (RJ Cyler), with whom he makes short film parodies of classic movies, as more of a ‘co-worker’ than a best friend. But when Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) insists he spend time with Rachel (Olivia Cooke) – a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer – he slowly discovers how worthwhile the true bonds of friendship can be.

DaytonMostMetro Wants to Send You to A Screening! If you’d like to enter our random drawing, fill out the form below and leave us a comment telling us why you should win. We’ll pick 10 winners and notify you this Sunday.

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL

Tues. 6/23 @ The Greene at 7PM

[form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

River Run Mural Design, Artist Announced

June 18, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Big changes are coming to the nearly 1,000-foot-long floodwall across from RiverScape MetroPark this summer. A colorful, active living-themed design, created by Oakwood resident Amy Deal, has been selected for the River Run mural in downtown Dayton.

Amy Deal with her winning designs. Photo by Val Beerbower

“My vision was to approach the project by including what is happening on and near the river, as well as showcasing that our river is healthy with an abundance of beautiful nature and wildlife,” said Deal, whose design was among more than 80 submitted. “The bike/running/walking trails in Dayton are spectacular. The impending River Run project is exciting and will only enhance river activity. I also included historical significance by symbolizing the Wright Brother’s Wright Flyer with graphic use of lines, which represent bridges. The circles represent Dayton’s history with bicycles. Dayton is active with cycling, walking, running, rollerblading, canoeing and kayaking to name a few. Dayton has opportunities for everyone.”

The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), Miami Conservancy District (MCD), and Five Rivers MetroParks led the search for artists/designers to submit ideas to be painted on the 953-foot-long, concrete floodwall on the north side of the Great Miami River.

“The goal of the project is to commission a design that highlights or reveals something unique about the recreational, environmental or aesthetic beauty of the river,” said Bear Monita, chair of the design selection committee. “Amy Deal’s design does just that.”

Production of the mural will begin this summer. Downtown art programming and education services provider K12 Gallery will serve as the contractor, tasked with applying Deal’s design to the floodwall.

“We believe the mural will add to the attractiveness of Dayton’s riverfront and transform our floodwall into a piece of artwork for thousands to enjoy on a daily basis,” said Janet Bly, general manager of MCD, the agency managing the Dayton region’s flood protection system since 1915.

The River Run Mural will complement RiverScape River Run, a project that seeks to improve riparian habitat along the Great Miami River by removing dangerous low dams and replacing them with in-river flow control structures that double as recreational paddle sport channels.

RiverScape River Run is the signature project of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a multipronged economic development initiative and strategic blueprint for Dayton’s center city. A vibrant, thriving center city is crucial to the prosperity of the City of Dayton and Dayton region. The Greater Downtown Dayton Plan calls for building on downtown’s strengths to create the type of bustling city in demand today and to attract the young, talented workforce needed to propel Dayton’s economy.

The River Run mural project began when MCD rehabilitated the 90-year-old wall last fall and is made possible through the support of the CareSource Foundation, The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, and Cox Media Group Ohio. Visit www.downtowndayton.org for more information.

‘Crowns’ Review – Human Race Theatre Company – Feel the Spirit

June 17, 2015 By Russell Florence, Jr.

A marvelously soul-stirring production of Regina Taylor’s off-Broadway spiritual play-with-music “Crowns” concludes the Human Race Theatre Company’s 2014-15 season at the Loft Theatre.

Adapted from the book of the same name by photographer Michael Cunningham and journalist Craig Marberry, “Crowns” is a fascinating, humorous, potent and celebratory portal into the African-American custom of church hats. Generations of African-American women, harkening to African tradition, have valued and taken pride in wearing their finest, most flamboyant hats to Sunday service, particularly based on biblical statutes written by Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 11 (“But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head… For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head…”).

Cunningham and Marberry’s flavorful sources (over 50 women were interviewed) provide an engaging hook for Taylor, who weaves a fluid narrative arc from the earthy interviews detailing the comedic (“I’d lend my children before I’d lend my hats. My hats know their way home”) and introspective (“Our hats have already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is wear them”). By and large, Taylor transforms an honest, reflective look at women and fashion into a deeper examination of cultural identity, generational friction and the absorbing power of faith.

In this breezy tale, sharply co-directed by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company artistic director Debbie Blunden-Diggs and Human Race founding resident artist Scott Stoney, troubled Brooklyn teenager Yolanda (a terrifically tough and scarred Monette McKay) is grudgingly sent to live with her churchgoing grandmother Mother Shaw (a fabulous, vocally strong Joilet F. Harris) in Darlington, South Carolina following the death of her brother. The angst-filled, streetwise Yolanda strongly resists her new Southern surroundings, but with perceptive assistance from Mother Shaw and her gaggle of fussy church lady friends, Yolanda, caught between two worlds, comes to terms with the pain of her past and accepts a brighter future guided by God.

In addition to Harris (responsible for a rousing “I Am On the Battlefield”) and McKay, Blunden-Diggs and Stoney’s incredible cast of actor-singers fulfill their duties with astounding ease. Jasmine Easler, a true knockout this season at Wright State University, commands attention as the emotional, soul-searching Velma as she fervently sings “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” with searing, roof-raising passion. As the sophisticated Wanda, Joy Lynn Jacobs provides a wonderful lesson in hat etiquette. As the gentle Jeanette, former DCDC member Debra Walton, last seen at the Race in “Children of Eden,” performs a beautiful praise dance during “Oh Lord I’m Waitin’ On You,” one of many numbers expertly choreographed with personality and power by Blunden-Diggs. Torie Wiggins, a hoot this season in the Race’s productions of “Mame” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” brings the hilarity once again as sassy preacher’s wife Mabel, who shares important advice on how to handle and approach a Hat Queen. David Jennings, responsible for all the male roles, terrifically embodies preachers, fathers and husbands, particularly delivering a dynamic, tear-jerking rendition of the gospel standard “If I Can Help Somebody.”

The presentation’s high quality winningly extends to its technical team. Scenic designer Tamara L. Honesty supplies an excellent assortment of sliding panels, swivel racks and stained glass projections. David M. Covach’s colorfully attractive costumes are vivid and pay homage to African ancestry. Musical director Scot Woolley provides superb, joyful piano accompaniment. The contributions of lighting designer John Rensel and sound designer Jay Brunner (incorporating Nigerian music) are equally effective.

Even if you don’t consider yourself remotely religious or have never been curious about African-American women in church hats, you’re bound to find something eye-opening or relatable within the universal context of this production, clearly one of the best shows of the season. Can I get an Amen?

“Crowns” continues through June 28 in the Loft Theatre of the Metropolitan Arts Center, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Tuesday at 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act 1: 55 minutes; Act 2: 40 minutes. Also, Human Race resident artist Alan Bomar Jones also performs the male roles. Tickets are $40-$50, but discounts are available. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com or www.humanracetheatre.org.

I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS With Blythe Danner & Sam Elliott Opens at THE NEON

June 17, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

As planned, we’re moving forward this weekend with a film that many of you are anticipating. The trailer for I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS has been causing a lot of laughs and even some swoons (I had no idea that Sam Elliott had such a fan base)! LOVE & MERCY was a hit this weekend, and it will stick around. If you still need to see FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD or LAMBERT AND STAMP, you only have until Thursday to catch them at THE NEON. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS: Currently rated “94% Fresh” on rotten tomatoes.com! “In this vibrant, funny, and heartfelt film, a widow and former songstress discovers that life can begin anew at any age. With the support of three loyal girlfriends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place), Carol (Blythe Danner) decides to embrace the world, embarking on an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man (Martin Starr), pursuing a new love interest (Sam Elliott), and reconnecting with her daughter (Malin Akerman).” (taken from Bleecker Street) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Don’t forget that we still have tickets to the crowd-pleasing documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. It screens this Thursday (June 18) at 7:30. Tickets are just $8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKrhi2una2w

Director Kevin Nam will be debuting his first short film this Monday, June 22 at 8pm. “What if you were given a chance to traverse your own subconscious? Would you be afraid of what you may see? We all have our demons kept at bay buried under the lies we tell ourselves. Keaton, a heartbroken man, is given this chance to reshape and reform his memories. With the help of Dr. Darren Vonnuxley at Entropy’s Enlightenment, Keaton is plunged deep into his own subconscious, where he must confront and conquer his demon, face to face. HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY is a short dark psychological drama with horror elements filmed entirely in the Dayton, Ohio region. This one and only screening of the short film is the directorial debut of local resident Kevin Nam. The director requires a mature audience due to scenes of graphic violence, blood, and gore. The director will also be in attendance for a brief Q & A immediately following the film. Please arrive early, screening will promptly begin at 8 pm. Tickets are on a first-come first-serve basis. Admission is FREE.” (taken from Kevin Nam’s press notes)

Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) and Doctors for America are proud to host a screening of the powerful documentary REMOTE AREA MEDICAL. During the U.S. debate about healthcare reform, the media failed to put a human face on what it means to not have access to healthcare. Over three days in April 2012, Remote Area Medical, the pioneers of “no-cost” healthcare clinics, treated nearly 2,000 patients on the infield of Bristol, Tennessee’s massive NASCAR speedway. REMOTE AREA MEDICAL affords us an insider’s perspective on the ebb and flow of the event. It is the extraordinary stories of the patients, desperate for medical attention, that create a lasting impression about the state of modern healthcare in America. Admission is free and open to the public. A panel discussion will be held after the movie with local physicians and health policy advocates. The film will screen on Sunday, July 12 at 3pm. Tickets will be given on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the screening.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 19 – Thursday, June 25:

LOVE & MERCY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Friday & Saturday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20
Monday: 2:45, 5:20
Tuesday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (PG-13) 1 Hr 32 Min
Friday & Saturday: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:15, 9:20
Sunday: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:15
Monday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Tuesday: 12:30, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY (NR) 19 min + Q&A
Monday: 8:00

COMING SOON:

(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)

TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, SAINT LAURENT,
ALOFT, IRRATIONAL MAN, INIFINITELY POLAR BEAR
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – AMY
July ? – MR. HOLMES

“Hattitude” & Gospel Music Make Crowns A Must See!

June 11, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Crows cast. photo by Scott Kimmins

The Human Race completes its 28th season of producing professional theatre for the Miami Valley with actress/playwright Regina Taylor‘s hit Crowns. Based on Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry‘s book by same name, the play begins as troubled Brooklyn teenager Yolanda is sent to live with her church-going grandmother down South after the death of her brother. There she finds healing in the personal stories of the ladies of the congregation and the hats that adorn their heads. Through time and space, their intimate histories create a soulful, joyous triumph of song, dance, culture and glorious “hattitude” in this powerhouse gospel musical like no other. The Human Race Theatre Company’s production runs tonight, June 11 – 28, 2015 at The Loft Theatre. It is co-directed by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs, who also serves as choreographer, and Human Race Theatre Founding Resident Artist Scott Stoney. Resident Artist Scot Woolley is the musical director.

Crowns features performances by an ensemble of seven versatile actors, including Wright State University senior Jasmine Easler (Hot Mikado, Fences) as “Velma”, Joliet F. Harris (Because of Winn Dixie, Ella the Musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’, HBO’s The Wire) as “Mother Shaw”, Joy Lynn Jacobs (Marie Christine and The Music Man on Broadway, Gotham and Nurse Jackie on television) as “Wanda”, David Jennings (After Midnight, Hands on a Hardbody, Brooklyn the Musical on Broadway, Grammy nomination for 30th Anniversary recording of Dreamgirls) as “The Man”, Monette McKay (Mamma Mia!, Memphis, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway) as “Yolanda”, former Dayton Contemporary Dance Company member Debra Walton (Children of Eden, Little Shop of Horrors for Human Race; Pajama Game and Street Corner Symphony on Broadway) returns to The Human Race after many years as “Jeanette” and Cincinnati actress Torie Wiggins (Mame, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike for Human Race; The Mountain Top and Black Pearl Sings! for Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati) makes a third appearance with The Human Race this season as “Mabel”.

Scenic designer Tamara L. Honesty (Other Desert Cities, Lombardi) and costume designer David M. Covach (August: Osage County, Moonlight and Magnolias) found inspiration for their designs in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria. Covach costumed each of the play’s female characters in a different color, based on a number of Yoruba deities. Crowns marks Covach’s thirtieth design for The Human Race. Honesty combined the earthy, wooden textures and colors of Yoruba craftwork with the modesty found in many Southern Pentecostal churches. The result is an open set space framed by screens upon which Resident Lighting Designer John Rensel will use projections to create a variety of times and locations. Scot Woolley and percussionist Kevin Anderson accompany the cast, performing the musical’s score-a mix of gospel, hymns, spirituals, chants-live offstage on a variety of instruments. Sound Designer Jay Brunner completes the environment by incorporating traditional and popular Yoruba/Nigerian music throughout the action.

Since its development for the stage in 2002, Crowns has become one of the most popular and widely-produced African-American plays in the country. “I think one of reasons for its popularity-certainly the reason why we wanted to produce it-is because it helps tell the story of who we are as a people,” says Producing Artist Director Kevin Moore. “It’s a beautiful, fascinating look at the history of African-Americans, and a celebration of culture and its roots inspired by the hats these ladies wear to church.” The fact that Crowns has much to teach its audiences (and its company) is not lost on Co-director Scott Stoney. “Working on this production with Debbie and this wonderful group of actors is amazing,” he says. “We all learn so much from each other. There’s more to it than just one person can know. And when it all comes together-the dance, the music and songs, the costumes, the stories-you can’t help but come away with a greater appreciation for this culture.”

Kevin Moore was delighted to be able to pair long-time friends Debbie Blunden-Diggs and Scott Stoney together to co-direct Crowns. Each brings a unique viewpoint and set of skills to the production. Blunden-Diggs, with a life-time of dance under her belt, refines the play’s narrative with her choreography while lending it her personal perspective as an African-American woman. Stoney is a highly-accomplished director skilled with telling intimate stories and over twenty years experience with the intricacies of The Loft Theatre. “With this leadership combination,” says Moore, “I’m confident that our production is in great hands. The result will be phenomenal theatre.”

Tickets for the preview performance of Crowns tonight, June 11 start at $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $17.50 for students. For all performances June 12 – 28, single ticket prices start at $40 for adults, $37 for seniors and $20 for students. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seating location. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. The Human Race is offering a pair of discount ticket opportunities. Side-area seats are available at all performances for $25 each, on sale two weeks prior to performance. The Sunday, June 14 7:00 p.m. performance is “Sawbuck Sunday”, when any available seat can be purchased in person for just $10 at The Loft Theatre box office two hours prior to the show. Discounts are subject to availability and some restrictions apply.

All performances are at the Metropolitan Art Center’s Loft Theatre, located at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Show times for Crowns are 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Performances on Sunday and Tuesday evenings begin at 7:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday matinees.

Tickets and performance information on Crowns are available at www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office.

‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ Review – Victoria Theatre Association – Adequate Whimsy

June 11, 2015 By Russell Florence, Jr.

Oliver Wadsworth and Justine Salata in “Peter and the Starcatcher” (Photo by Alexander Weisman)

The fanciful Peter Pan play-with-music prequel “Peter and the Starcatcher” adequately closes the Victoria Theatre Association’s 2014- 15 Premier Health Broadway Series at the Schuster Center.

Sprightly adapted by Rick Elise based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, this “Starcatcher” primarily presents a unique quandary, specifically for theatergoers expecting to see the national tour of its tremendous Broadway mounting, nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2012 ultimately winning five. When the “Starcatcher” tour folded last year, the Victoria searched for a replacement version. Organizers selected a regional theater production conceived by Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre Company, but the show just doesn’t have the shimmering conceptual sparkle, artistic ingenuity and emotional heft of the Broadway production, which certain patrons fondly recall to this very day.

Granted, director Jenn Thompson certainly attempts originality, but unfortunately her pacing is off-kilter in a startlingly humdrum Act 1that finds some actors having trouble projecting in the space, a crucial indication this intimate production truly belongs inside the Victoria Theatre. It’s also extremely odd Thompson allows Leo Ash Evens, who excessively portrays the villainous Black Stache (the precursor Captain Hook), to go unrealistically overboard in a defining moment late in Act 2.

Even so, there are consistently firm performances to be found here amid the fascinating, fun, ensemble-driven storytelling. The sharp, physical Rhett Guter winningly charms as the intuitive and vulnerable Boy/Peter. Justine Salata brings poise, humor and spunk to her terrifically astute portrayal of Molly, future mother of Wendy. José Restrepo (Smee), Austin Archer (Prentiss), Jake P. Evans (Ted), Jeff Gurner (Grempkin/Fighting Prawn), and Oliver Wadsworth (Mrs. Bumbrake/the mermaid Teacher) equally shine in featured comedic capacities.

Additionally, the presentation’s attractive technical elements are courtesy of scenic designer George Maxwell, costumer Carol Wells-Day, lighting designer Michael Gilliam, sound designer Joshua C. Hight, and hair/makeup designer Amanda French. Patricia Wilcox’s playful choreography and Tom Griffin’s crisp music direction suitably complement Wayne Barker’s cheery tunes.

“Starcatcher” enchants at its core due to its very engaging, “Wicked”-esque ability to present familiar lore refreshingly, particularly in its stronger Act 2 detailing the genesis of Tinkerbell and the need for a certain hook. However, when you consider the fundamental fact that the Victoria is responsible for and boasts about delivering national tours, watching an out of state regional theater showcase of this work is a disappointing predicament.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” continues through June 14 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Act One: 65 minutes; Act Two: 58 minutes. Tickets are $25-$97. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

BEACH BOYS’ Brian Wilson, THE WHO, and TAB HUNTER – Check Out THE NEON This Weekend!

June 10, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

As promised, we’re excited to open the new biopic about Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys this Friday. It’s called LOVE & MERCY, and the reviews are terrific. The Village Voice, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and many others have given the film a 100% Review! In addition, we will open a documentary about the famous managers of The Who – LAMBERT AND STAMP. Lastly, we’ll have a one-night only screening of the crowd-pleasing documentary about Hollywood’s “boy next door” – TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. If you still need to see IRIS or DIOR AND I, you’ll need to hurry down. Thursday will be your last chance to catch those films at THE NEON. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD will stick around for one more week. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for LOVE & MERCY: “LOVE & MERCY presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era defining catalog of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost.” (taken from Roadside Attractions) This film has been winning rave reviews – especially for the two men who play Wilson – John Cusack and Paul Dano. Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for LAMBERT AND STAMP: “Aspiring filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert set out to find a subject for their underground movie, one that will reflect the way it feels to be young and dissatisfied in postwar London. This unlikely partnership of two men from vastly different backgrounds was inspired by the burgeoning youth culture of the early 1960s. Lambert and Stamp searched for months and finally found in a band called the High Numbers a rebellious restlessness that was just what they were looking for. Abandoning their plans to make a film, they instead decided to mentor and manage this group, which evolved into the iconic band known as the Who. The result was rock ‘n’ roll history” (taken from Sony Classics) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

The crowd-pleasing, insightful and kinda gossipy SXSW hit documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL will make its way to town for one special screening. If you’re a Tab Hunter fan or if you’re interested in how the Hollywood machine worked (and still does to some extent), I encourage you to attend. This film will only screen one time – Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 – as Pride Night at THE NEON. Tickets, just $8 each, are available now at THE NEON’s Box Office! “In the 1950s, Tab Hunter is number one at the box office and number one on the music charts. He is Hollywood’s most sought-after star and America’s boy next door. Natalie Wood, Debbie Reynolds and Sophia Loren are just a few of the actresses he is romantically linked to. Nothing, it seems, can damage Tab Hunter’s career. Nothing, that is, except for the fact that Tab Hunter is secretly gay. Now, Tab Hunter’s secret is out. In TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL we will meet, for the first time, the real Tab Hunter as he shares with us the whole story of a happy, healthy survivor of Hollywood’s roller coaster.”

Director Kevin Nam will be debuting his first short film on Monday, June 22. “What if you were given a chance to traverse your own subconscious? Would you be afraid of what you may see? We all have our demons kept at bay buried under the lies we tell ourselves. Keaton, a heartbroken man, is given this chance to reshape and reform his memories. With the help of Dr. Darren Vonnuxley at Entropy’s Enlightenment, Keaton is plunged deep into his own subconscious, where he must confront and conquer his demon, face to face. HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY is a short dark psychological drama with horror elements filmed entirely in the Dayton, Ohio region. This one and only screening of the short film is the directorial debut of local resident Kevin Nam. The director requires a mature audience due to scenes of graphic violence, blood, and gore. The director will also be in attendance for a brief Q & A immediately following the film. Please arrive early, screening will promptly begin at 8 pm. Tickets are on a first-come first-serve basis. Admission is FREE.” (taken from Kevin Nam’s press notes)

Many thanks to Oldies 97.3 and Omega Music for their help in spreading the word about LOVE & MERCY. Visit their facebook pages and enter their contests for your chance to win LOVE & MERCY Prize Packages!

Next Friday (June 19), we will open the film that many of you have been waiting for – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS – starring Blythe Danner and Sam Elliott.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 12 – Thursday, June 18:

LOVE & MERCY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Friday & Saturday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

LAMBERT AND STAMP (R) 1 Hr 57 Min
Friday, Saturday: 4:45, 9:40
Sunday: 4:45
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 7:45
Thursday: 2:50

TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL (NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES
July ? – AMY

Volunteer To Usher At Victoria Theatre Association Events

June 9, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Each season, nearly 700 volunteers from the Dayton area donate more than 60,000 hours of their time to our organization.

As a Victoria Theatre Association volunteer, you are an an active partner in the arts in downtown Dayton. You’ll meet a lot of great people, see a lot of great shows, and know that your contribution keeps the arts affordable for all.

If you’re 14-19 years old, check out the Teen Usher program!

Volunteers primarily work as the ushers and bartenders for our performance theatres at the Victoria Theatre, Schuster Center and The Loft Theatre. Ushers are responsible for taking tickets, seating patrons, enforcing house policies, assisting patrons and answering questions. They also assist with mailings, staff fair and festival booths, and other tasks. Volunteers are expected to attend an orientation, training sessions, and commit to working a minimum of 50 hours per year.

The Victoria Theatre Association is currently accepting applications for new volunteers for the 2015-2016 season. To fill out an application, click here.

DIOR & I Starts Friday and Partnering with Ghostlight Coffee at THE NEON!

June 2, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

We’re adding a new film to the mix this Friday. It’s a rare, inside look into the creation of a couture collection for one of the world’s most luxurious fashion brands – Christian Dior. It’s called DIOR AND I, and it had quite a nice run at film festivals over the past year. In addition, we will hold onto both of our current selections – IRIS (for limited screenings) and FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for DIOR AND I: “Frederic Tcheng’s solo directorial debut brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand’s past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons’ vision.” Click on the image below to visit the film’s official site.

Carol Quinones is bringing a special, one-time screening of TRACE AMOUNTS to town on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30. Click this LINK to reserve your ticket – they’re $12.50 each. “After recovering from a sickness that would bring him to the edge of despair, Eric Gladen began researching the science behind what had made him so sick. His research led him straight into one of the biggest medical debates of all time, the question of whether or not childhood vaccines are causing Autism. He would end up quitting his career, moving into an RV, and traveling the country interviewing experts and piecing together thousands of studies and leaked documents. But Eric wasn’t focused on the vaccines themselves, he was focused on something that belongs nowhere near vaccines- mercury.”

Don’t miss the chance to see the SXSW hit documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. This film will only screen one time – Thursday, June 18 at 7:30. Tickets, just $8 each, are available now at THE NEON’s Box Office! “In the 1950s, Tab Hunter is number one at the box office and number one on the music charts. He is Hollywood’s most sought-after star and America’s boy next door. Natalie Wood, Debbie Reynolds and Sophia Loren are just a few of the actresses he is romantically linked to. Nothing, it seems, can damage Tab Hunter’s career. Nothing, that is, except for the fact that Tab Hunter is secretly gay. Now, Tab Hunter’s secret is out. In TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL we will meet, for the first time, the real Tab Hunter as he shares with us the whole story of a happy, healthy survivor of Hollywood’s roller coaster.”

Next Friday (June 12), we will open a Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys) biopic – LOVE & MERCY. Please help us spread the word. Click HERE to visit the official site.

Ghostlight Coffee is now in the baking business. We currently offer a delicious variety of cookies and biscotti from their brand new kitchen, and we’re so happy that we’re able to partner with another independently owned downtown business. Give them a try the next time you’re in!

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 5 – Thursday, June 11:

DIOR AND I (NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Friday & Saturday: 3:00, 7:20, 9:20
Sunday: 7:20
Monday & Tuesday: 3:15, 7:30
Wednesday: 3:15
Thursday: 3:15, 7:30

IRIS (PG-13) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 5:15
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:45

TRACE AMOUNTS (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min
Wednesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 12 – LOVE & MERCY
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, LAMBERT & STAMP,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES

“Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement” to Open at Antioch College’s Herndon Gallery

June 1, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The Herndon Gallery opens an historic exhibition of iconic documentary photography, “Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement” on Friday, June 5 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The evening’s public reception includes live performances by local artists and activists involved in the #BlackLivesMatter and Justice for John Crawford movements. The Gallery will also present an artist talk with Danny Lyon via Skype on Thursday, July 16 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The reception on Friday, June 5 will feature slam and performance poets, John Booth, Furaha Henry-Jones and G. Scott Jones, performing powerful spoken word pieces, while visual artist and citizen activist, Migiwa Orima, makes screen prints in the gallery. Migiwa’s protest banners visually connect the local protest movements to the national movement. Between marches, these banners will reside in the Herndon Gallery.

The exhibition also features the archival slide montage known as The Gegner Incident, created by Brian Springer. It includes archival newspaper clippings and photographs of a local civil rights citizen protest around racism in a local barbershop in Yellow Springs in the 1950s.

Antioch College and the Herndon Gallery will also host a special reception and conversation on Friday, June 19 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with David Goodman ’69 and Steve Schwerner ’60 (Brothers of Andrew Goodman and Michael “Mickey” Schwerner, who along with James Earl Chaney were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Neshoba County, Miss. during the Freedom Summer campaign in 1964). Artist Danny Lyon will also be present for a book signing in the Gallery following Goodman and Schwerner’s reflections. The second publishing of Lyon’s out of print memoir was made possible through the generosity of Antioch College Trustee David Goodman and The Andrew Goodman Foundation. As part of Antioch’s Reunion 2015 events, David Goodman and Steve Schwerner will also tell “The Chaney, Goodman & Schwerner Story” on Saturday, June 20 at 4:00 p.m. in the College’s Foundry Theater. The event will be moderated by Mila Cooper, Director of the Coretta Scott King Center. All events are free and open to the public.

About Danny Lyon:

Photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon captured some of the civil rights movement’s most compelling moments, from the March on Washington, from the March on Washington, to the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. A self-taught photographer and graduate of the University of Chicago, Lyon began his photographic career in the early 1960s as the first staff photographer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a national group of college students who joined together after the first sit-in by four African American college students at a North Carolina lunch counter.

Said Lyon of his work, “I wanted to change history and preserve humanity, but in the process I changed myself and preserved my own.”

Lyon became a leader of post-War documentary photography and film and helped create a mode of photojournalism in which the picture-maker is deeply and personally embedded in his subject matter. From 1962-1964, Lyon traveled the South and Mid-Atlantic regions documenting the Civil Rights Movement. His photographs were published in The Movement, a documentary book about the Southern Civil Rights Movement, and later in Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement, Lyon’s own memoir of his years working for the SNCC.

Lyon has won two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Fellowship, and ten National Endowment for the Arts awards. He is affiliated with Magnum Photos, and his work has appeared at MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Center for Creative Photography. Two of his photos are attached at the end of this release.

Herndon Gallery Information:

Herndon Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. The gallery is closed June 30 through July 6 during the Antioch College quarter break. For more information, contact Jennifer Wenker, creative director of the Herndon Gallery at [email protected] or 937-319-0114. Additional information may be found at www.antiochcollege.org/campus-life/herdon-gallery

Send Your Kids To Theater Camp

May 29, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

X*ACT Xenia Area Community Theater's photo.

X*ACT presents their children’s theater camp for all kids 8 and older at the Kettering Health Network Theater, and it promises to be a fun-filled learning experience. From learning the basics of theater to auditioning, memorization and blocking, there will also be lots of entertaining theater games to be played!
To cap-off the experience, the campers will perform their own rendition of The Pied Piper Of Hamelin; re-told and choreographed by the campers themselves.
Come join Kira Miller, theater major from Sinclair Community College, for two weeks of fun and learning that only the theater can offer. Fees are $75.00 per camper and include a theater camp T-shirt. Reservations can be made by calling the theater at 937-372-0516.

IRIS Apfel Documentary & Great Crowds for MADDING CROWD at THE NEON!

May 26, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see WHILE WE’RE YOUNG or THE SALT OF THE EARTH, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. WHILE WE’RE YOUNG has been here for a while, but SALT OF THE EARTH has only been here since Friday. Though attendance was bar bones for this stunning documentary, audiences have been raving – it’s one of the most powerful documentaries to come along for quite some time. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD had wonderful crowds over the weekend. Many thanks to those of you who came and made our opening weekend numbers stand out from the crowd (we were way above the national average for this picture). On Friday, we will start a wonderful and lively documentary by the late, great Albert Maysles – IRIS. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for IRIS: Rated 98% FRESH on Rottentomatoes! “IRIS pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel – the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris’ dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. ‘I feel lucky to be working. If you’re lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.'”(Magnolia Pictures) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, May 29 – Thursday, June 4:

IRIS (PG-13) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:30

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 12 – LOVE & MERCY
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, LAMBERT & STAMP,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES

Saturday is SMAG’s Spring Fling!

May 22, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Contemporary dance lovers should make their way to the Dayton Playhouse (1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton) this Saturday, May 23, for SMAG Dance Collective’s annual Spring Fling performance at 4 and 8 p.m.

Artistic director Michael Groomes founded the nonprofit troupe in 2003 to fill a void in Dayton’s artistic community.

“Back in 2003,” he recalled, “I was teaching dance at Sinclair Community College, and so I met lots of dancers, and it seemed like there were a lot of dancers in the area looking for opportunities to perform in styles outside of classical technique–hip-hop dancers, belly dancers, different types who weren’t getting a chance to be exposed to audiences. The [local] arts organizations, back then, were more performing at audiences as opposed to trying to engage them and get them to understand the capabilities of this abundance of artists we have in Dayton and the messages they want to get out.”

So Groomes made a promise to his children. To that end, SMAG is an acronym culled from the names of Groomes’ sons, Sean-Michael and Gavyn.

“I promised my kids that by the time they were 12 years old, I would have a company in their name. In September 2003, my son was due to turn 12, and that August, I felt like it was the right time. We incorporated hip-hop dancers onstage with modern and ballet dancers…all of it, together. That was something new in Dayton.”

One of SMAG’s defining aspects has been unexpected artistic partnerships. Fueled by Groomes’ restless drive to constantly turn audiences’ concept of “art” on its head to create new ideas, SMAG has combined in the past with visual artists, fashion designers, live musicians improvising new works, and more.

“That’s something else that wasn’t really happening back when we got started,” Groomes said of the collaborations that have become a hallmark for the ever-evolving troupe. “I thought we could bring a different perspective to the table, and keep reforming that perspective.”

Expect more of these creative fusions as SMAG looks ahead to its 12th season.

“We’re working on a September fundraiser with K12 Gallery, a huge event with DJs and house music, and live performances in multiple styles. We’ll be working with the Dayton Metro Library’s outreach program. We’re trying to get to a Lakota-Sioux reservation in South Dakota to work with the youth there and learn how to fuse Native American dance style with contemporary.”

Internationally acclaimed painter Mike Elsass, a Dayton native who remains based here, has joined forces with SMAG in past years to create live works of visual art–at a previous Spring Fling show, dancers writhed and swayed across a giant canvas spread out on the stage floor as Mike wove among them painting both bodies and canvas. Groomes says Elsass will return to the fold next season for a new venture.

Additionally, fall will see a new edition of SMAGmare, the collective’s yearly Halloween-themed performance typically held outdoors in the Oregon Historic District. SMAGmare began as a pop-up event to engage arts tourists wandering Fifth Street during October First Friday festivities, and was so successful that it’s become an anticipated annual feature. Going further in the spirit of multi-discipline collaboration, this year’s performance will pull in a local theatre group.

Outreach efforts like these have resulted in an incredibly diverse following for the group; SMAG performances routinely draw some of the most diversified audiences in the Dayton arts scene.

“You look at the U.S. census for Dayton, and that’s more or less what you’re gonna see when you look around at our dancers and audiences,” said Groomes. “It’s amazing to see the different types and faces and economic backgrounds that come together when we perform, and we’ve been extremely blessed to have that kind of support from across the board, and we’re looking forward to seeing more of that at the Spring Fling.”

SMAG’s Spring Fling show will serve as a platform for new works from both emerging and accomplished choreographers, including Groomes, whose entry is a civil rights-influenced piece.

“My piece in the show,” he said, “is inspired by the lives and works of three women: Ruby Bridges, the first black female child to be integrated into public school in New Orleans; Viola Liuzzo, the first white woman to die in her efforts to achieve civil rights; and Mahalia Jackson, who spent a lot of time traveling with Martin Luther King and served as kind of a hype man for him with her rousing gospel songs before his speeches. These were three incredible women who left a great legacy, and I wanted to honor that.”

The concert also features diverse and challenging works by SMAG associate artistic director Taiesha Green, Renee MeClendon of the McClendon Institute, Shonna Hickman-Matlock of DCDC, and Jordan Daughterty of DCDC2.

“We encourage the audience to be active,” Groomes said. “If you see something you like, speak up. Shout and cheer, because when the dancers get that feedback, they continue to step it up, and the audience gets back what they put into it. We want our audience to feel like they have the freedom to express themselves.”

Tickets for SMAG’s Spring Fling can be purchased at the door, or at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/754467; prices are $10 for students and seniors, $15 general admission, and $25 VIP seating. VIP ticket holders will also receive a gift upon entry.

Dancers interested in auditioning for SMAG’s upcoming season, or community artists interested in working with the troupe can call Michael Groomes at 937-329-6948, or email [email protected].

Learn to Write, Up Close and Personal

May 20, 2015 By Dayton937

Sharon Short

Sharon Short was literally shaking when she pulled up to the curb before her first Antioch Writers Workshop in 1990.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t do this,’” she said. “But then I thought, ‘This is where I told my husband I’d be all week. What am I going to do? Drive around?’”

Instead, she went in.

“The people were really warm and welcoming,” said Short, now executive director of AWW and a published writer. “I can’t think of any other conference I’ve been to where I’m in touch with people a year later, much less later 25 years later. That’s pretty powerful.”

Now, it’s time for writers of all stripes to still those quivering limbs and join the 2015 summer workshop, the crown jewel of AWW and featuring literary queen Nikki Giovanni. Cincinnati native Giovanni, one of the world’s best-known African American poets, will serve as the keynoter during this year’s summer workshop, held July 11-17 at Antioch University Midwest in Yellow Springs. The deadline to register is June 20 for this workshop that celebrates all things writing, as well as being part of a community of writers.

“The week-long summer workshops is a very immersive experience,” Short said. “There are lots of online learning opportunities, and you certainly can gain plenty of craft tips from those. But when you’re together with other people who want to do this, you’re affirmed writing is a good and cool thing to be doing with part of your life. You’ll develop a support network and make connections that can last a lifetime and carry you through what’s next.

“Among all creative arts, writing can be very much a solitary activity,” Short added. “But getting that work out there in the world and feeling nurtured to keep creating that work is very much a community process.”

This year, AWW also celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

“With any organization, especially a nonprofit, reaching the 30-year milestone is amazing,” Short said. “We started with Antioch College, and AWW was the brainchild of two instructors for whom we now have scholarships named: Bill Baker and Justin Jerome.

“It’s significant not only to be around that long,” she added, “but to keep a week-long immersive model that has changed in some ways but at its heart has stuck to this model: every summer, we dedicate time to get together and focus on creative writing and being a community of creative writers.”

And that community is inclusive of faculty, who also embrace the community philosophy of AWW and are as much a part of the experience as participants are.

“They remember what that’s like when you’re starting out and like to help people,” Short said.

AWW also fosters a community atmosphere because the summer workshop — along with all its events, including monthly seminars, fall and spring workshops, literary salons, and more — are a good fit for writers of all levels.

“If you’re just interested in writing and haven’t written anything since high school, consider at least coming to the keynote, which is free,” Short said. “But then come back the next morning to hear Nikki Giovanni’s craft talk — it may be just enough to get started again, to find motivation to continue a work in progress or inspiration for a piece in the works.”

The AWW summer workshop has a variety of options in its schedule, including:
The Full Week Experience: Attend the Saturday evening keynote on July 11 and Sunday Morning craft class July 12 with Nikki Giovanni, morning classes Monday-Friday (July 13-17) in fiction, poetry, nonfiction and professional skills for writers, and one afternoon seminar of your choice Sunday-Friday (July 12-17) focusing on either poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction (all of which include bringing a 10-20 page manuscript to workshop with a leader and peers) or “Getting Started,” which does not require a manuscript.

“A La Carte” Experience: Choose from these options:

Saturday Seminar: July 11, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — a one day prequel to the summer full-week Experience, focusing on inspiration and various craft topics. Includes Giovanni’s Saturday evening keynote and Sunday morning craft class.
Morning Classes — Attend the Saturday evening keynote and Sunday morning craft class, as well as morning classes Monday-Friday (July 13-17) in fiction, poetry, nonfiction and professional skills for writers.
Afternoon Only Seminar in ”Getting Started” — Attend the Saturday evening keynote and Sunday morning craft class and the afternoon Getting Started seminar (Sunday-Friday, July 12-17).
Nikki Giovanni Saturday evening keynote (July 11) and Sunday Morning craft class (July 12) only.

“If anyone out there is feeling alone as a writer or feeling that writing is something other people out there do, we want them to know that’s not the case,” Short said. “I think people will be amazed at how truly welcoming and warm they’ll find the environment. This is one of the most diverse and friendliest writers workshops writers will attend.”

Chalk Art Comes To Life At The Greene Today!

May 16, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The streets of The Greene will come alive today as artists create living art using only pastel chalk to bring awareness to national mental health awareness month from 10am – 10pm!

Watching art come to life is considered a performance art and has an immediacy that gives every piece a uniqueness that can never be truly duplicated. You can vote for your favorite, by making a donation to Life Essentials!

Take part in a family scavenger hunt and a kid’s chalking area. Wind down with a block party in the evening. The event will support Life Essentials’ unique and specialized programs that enable seniors and people living with mental illness to have a greater quality of life.

Special guest artist Jennifer Nichols was born into an artistic family. Her grandfather, Harry E. Stinson, was a recognized Sculptor, Painter and Art Professor. Jennifer’s formal art training started in high school, and she began to accumulate awards and sell her early watercolor paintings.

Later, Jennifer attended UCLA, graduating with a degree in Design, focusing on costume & clothing design. She continued to pursue painting while working in advertising and raising her two daughters in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer’ work was exhibited at various galleries and events in Ohio between 1992 – 1999. She also was very involved with the Dayton Visual Arts Center, serving as their president and as a board member and contributing artist.

In 1999, she moved to Palm Beach, Florida. In 2004, Jennifer and her daughters began participating in the Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth, Florida, which is the largest street painting event in the United States, attracting 100,000 visitors each year. In 2012, Jennifer founded the International Street Painting Society, as a way to help other street artists connect and be more successful, and help street painting be seen as a legitimate art form.

Jennifer’s work shows a unique talent for capturing faces and expressions. By working to duplicate the colors and shading of the original art, Jennifer stays true to the original work of art. Using soft pastel chalk on pavement or concrete surfaces, these large works of art are washed away after each event. Jennifer’s philosophy is that street painting is as much about the performance and execution, as it is about the art. The immediacy and challenges of the “canvas”, weather and medium make each piece special and unique. UUsually over the course of 2 days, each piece comes to life before your eyes. Constantly looking for new challenges, she is open to new materials and processes, and will chalk on just about anything.

David Zinn temporary street art is composed entirely of chalk, charcoal and found objects, and is always improvised on location. Most of these drawings have appeared on sidewalks in Ann Arbor and elsewhere in Michigan, but some have surfaced as far away as subway platforms in Manhattan and construction debris in the Sonoran Desert. Zinn’s chalk work began in 2001 as an excuse to linger outdoors, but has since achieved global notoriety through the sharing of photos on Facebook, Huffington Post UK, The Cheezburger Network, Street Art Utopia, and Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of Awesome. His most frequent characters are Sluggo (seen here) , a bright green monster with stalk eyes and irreverent habits, and Philomena, a phlegmatic flying pig. As of 2013, there have been a lot of mice as well.

GREY GARDENS and New Juliette Binoche Film at THE NEON!

May 15, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

Over the past 14 years that I’ve been at THE NEON, THE D TRAIN ranks as one of the biggest box office disappointments we’ve ever had. We had to lose it quickly. Today, we opened a new film with Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart – CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA. (Stewart became the first American to ever win a Cesar award for her role in this film. The Cesar Awards are France’s equivalent to our Academy Awards.) In addition, we will open the 40th Anniversary Restoration of GREY GARDENS – the documentary that became the basis for numerous books, an HBO narrative film and even a Broadway musical. We will continue our run of WHILE WE’RE YOUNG for one more week. Next week, we’ll open the gorgeous new film FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD!

Synopsis for CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA: “Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is an actress at the peak of her international career who is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years earlier. Back then she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young woman who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena. She departs with her assistant (Kristen Stewart) to rehearse in Sils Maria, a remote region of the Alps. A young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Chloe Grace Moretz) is to take on the role of Sigrid, and Maria finds herself on the other side of the mirror, face to face with an ambiguously charming woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself. (Sundance Selects) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for GREY GARDENS: The original documentary from 1975 has received a 40th Anniversary Restoration! This is one of my favorite movies. In fact, when the musical adaptation premiered (before its move to Broadway), I scurried to NYC to see it. “Meet Big and Little Edie Beale: mother and daughter, high-society dropouts, and reclusive cousins of Jackie Onassis. The two manage to thrive together amid the decay and disorder of their East Hampton, New York, mansion, making for an eerily ramshackle echo of the American Camelot. An impossibly intimate portrait, this 1976 documentary by Albert and David Maysles, codirected by Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, quickly became a cult classic and established Little Edie as a fashion icon and philosopher queen.” (taken from Janus Films) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijPIfZt72vc

“Stivers School for the Arts-Film & Animation Studio Presents THE SHOWCASE. This compilation of short films includes live action & animation and ranges from comedy to documentary. Some of these films have already won regional and state awards. Following the show, there will be a Q & A with the student filmmakers. All proceeds go towards updating equipment in the Stivers Film and Animation studio. The Showcase runs one night only – Wednesday, May 20th at 7:30pm. Tickets are$5.00 in advance and $7.00 on the day of the event.. Tickets are now available at THE NEON’s box office and Stivers School for the Arts. Please join us for an evening of entertainment as we celebrate this next generation of filmmakers.” (taken from press release)

On Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30, T.J.’s Place of Hope will host a screening of I AM A GIRL. This film is “an inspirational feature length documentary that paints a clear picture of the reality of what it means to be a girl in the 21st century. Feminism may have promised equality and sought a better and fairer world for women but the reality is that girls make up almost a quarter of the world’s population yet still face the greatest discrimination of any group in the world. Technology and science offer unimaginable potential but we still struggle to ensure men and women are afforded equal opportunities. Yet in spite of these obstacles, girls have found extraordinary ways to persevere and in our documentary we hear their stories of strength, hope, courage and a refusal to be second best.” (taken from Gathr press notes) Advanced tickets are $10 each and must be purchased on Gathr’s website. If tickets remain on the day of the event, they will be available at our box office one hour before the screening. Click this LINK to visit the site and purchase your ticket.

Carol Quinones is trying to bring a special, one-time screening of TRACE AMOUNTS to town on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30. That said, 50 tickets need to be reserved by May 30 in order to proceed. Click this LINK to reserve your ticket – they’re $12.50 each. “After recovering from a sickness that would bring him to the edge of despair, Eric Gladen began researching the science behind what had made him so sick. His research led him straight into one of the biggest medical debates of all time, the question of whether or not childhood vaccines are causing Autism. He would end up quitting his career, moving into an RV, and traveling the country interviewing experts and piecing together thousands of studies and leaked documents. But Eric wasn’t focused on the vaccines themselves, he was focused on something that belongs nowhere near vaccines- mercury.”

Mark your calendars now for a special screening of a new, crowd-pleasing documentary – TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. It will screen Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 (tickets $8 each). I’ll include more details in next week’s newsletter.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, May 15 – Thursday, May 21:

GREY GARDENS (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:00
Monday: 3:00, 7:40
Tuesday & Wednesday: 3:00
Thursday: 3:00, 7:40

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (R) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:40, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 12:40, 5:10, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 5:10

CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (R) 2 Hrs 4 Min
Friday & Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40
Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:15, 7:50

STIVERS: THE SHOWCASE (NR)
Wednesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
May 22 – FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
TBD – IRIS, SUNSHINE SUPERMAN,
SALT OF THE EARTH, LAMBERT & STAMP, SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
Early July – ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL