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After School Tuesdays at The Human Race Theatre’s Creativity Center @ The Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center

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After School TuesdaysKids, spend an afternoon The Human Race Theatre Company’s Creativity Center and you will be transported into the imaginative world of theatre. Each week will be designed to introduce a new skill or theatrical area. Develop your skills in improvisation, explore stage makeup technique, write a dramatic script, choreograph a new dance, act out your favorite myth or tall tale. Learn monologues, rehearse scenework and participate in mock auditions. And best of all, make new friends! Healthy afternoon snacks will be provided. This activity is for kids ages 8 – 13.

Event Details:

When: Tuesday February 25, 2014  03:00 PM – 06:00 PM

Cost: $15 pre-reg/$18 at the door

Event Contact Info: Marilyn Klaben
Phone: 461-3823 x3132

Spend an Evening with Oscar + ***Ticket Giveaway***

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FD Oscars2As movie makers celebrate their biggest night, FilmDayton will join the Academy Awards action by hosting “An Evening with    Oscar” March 2 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3520 Pentagon Park Blvd., in Beavercreek.

As the nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the Dayton region’s film community, FilmDayton will welcome guests to watch the broadcast on multiple screens, mingle with friends, film lovers and area filmmakers while also enjoying savory treats created by local chefs. The Academy Awards are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., and the party’s doors open at 7 p.m.

FD Oscars1Tickets for the “An Evening with Oscar” party are $25 ($20 for FilmDayton members). A package of six tickets is $125. Tickets are available at filmdayton.ticketleap.com.  But through Dayton Most Metro, you have a chance to win tickets below!

“Our ‘Evening with Oscar’ party is a unique way to watch the Academy Awards,” said Megan Cooper, FilmDayton’s executive director. “Imagine a huge living room with all your friends watching the Oscars — chatting, eating, drinking and enjoying the night. Plus, we’ve got great silent auction prizes from major movies sets and fun local entertainment options.”

Attendees to “An Evening with Oscar” can watch the Academy Awards show in a relaxed, cocktail setting with friends and fans. Tickets will include games of OsFD Oscars3car Bingo, a chance to cast a ballot to pick the evening’s winners, a cash bar, a silent auction of film-inspired packages, and a range of food items created by area chefs to represent the best picture nominees. The chef at the Hilton Garden Inn will be providing savory treats to represent American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club and the Wolf of Wall Street. Sweet treats representing best pictures include a molecular gastronomy mastery by Scratch Event Catering for Gravity, Perfect Mom Cupcakes presented by Baked. for Her and Irish Cream Cheesecake Bites topped with Chocolate for Philomena & Vanilla and Corn Mousse topped with Caramel Popcorn for Nebraska, both presented by Ovations Food Service.

The silent auction includes multiple prizes attendees will want to bid high to win. Film related packages include a set visit to the upcoming Cate Blanchett movie that is filming in the region this spring and a package from Piper Eressea Kerman, writer of Orange is the New Black. Attendees can also bid on great sports packages (from the Dayton Dragons and Dayton Dutch Lions), arts prizes (from the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Philharmonic, Human Race Theatre Co. and more), great food gift certificates, massages, pet packages, auto detailing, jewelry, books, and so much more!

Get tickets now or learn more at filmdayton.com or at Facebook.com/FilmDayton.

 

FilmDayton’s “AN EVENING WITH OSCAR”

FD Oscars4When: Sunday, March 2, Show starts at 8 p.m.; Doors open at 7 p.m.

Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 3520 Pentagon Park Blvd., Beavercreek

Cost: Tickets are $25, ($20 for FilmDayton members); $125 for package of six. Purchase tickets online and learn more at www.FilmDayton.TicketLeap.com.

More info: Attendees can learn more about the chefs and great silent auction prizes at filmdayton.com or at Facebook.com/FilmDayton.

Ticket Give Away

DaytonMostMetro.com has a pair of tickets to give away for the Evening with Oscar.  If you’d like to enter our ticket giveaway, fill out the form below and comment below who you think will walk away with the Best Picture Oscar![form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Haunted House On Sorority Row Looks To Recruit New Horror Pledges

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 Local filmmaker Henrique Couto has just had his first experience into the huge fundraising website Kickstarter wrap  up.  He shows signs of exhaustion and fatigue.  Almost as if he personally executed his campaign like a Jerry Lewis  televised marathon on the local television channel.  He quickly perks up, though.  It truly is amazing.  Immediately, his  attitude changes and it’s as if he suddenly took some miracle pill that completely wiped out any tiredness that was  rummaging around him.

This isn’t the first time Couto went to trying out crowd funding.  He first tried indiegogo.com to help get his first family film,  A Bulldog For Christmas, up and rolling back in March of last year. The movie centered on a cynical college student  that was on Christmas vacation and then was transformed into a bulldog.  The college student needed to learn the  true meaning of the holiday spirit, along with what being part of a loving family entails in order to become her normal self again.  Couto wanted to make the goal he set of $1600, which would help feed the cast during production, hire composer Buzz Amato to do the music score of the film, and help with the manufacturing with the DVD and Blu Ray copies of the film.  Couto was able to raise over $2400.

With the success of the first one in the books, Couto looked to Kickstarter to go and help get his one of his newest projects he currently is working on, the dark comedy Awkward Thanksgiving.  Like A Bulldog For Christmas, Couto wanted to do the same things with Awkward Thanksgiving with the post production, music, and treating his actors to a great meal or two.  Unlike Indiegogo, Couto knew that with Kickstarter you make your goal or you get nothing at all.  The goal was set a little higher-$2400.  Within the first 24 hours, the goal was made.  At the end of the drive, the movie raised over $6000.

Couto continues to deliver micro-budgeted films that captivate his audiences all around the world.  With his first voyage in comedy Depression: The Movie, to A Bulldog For Christmas hopefully being released nationwide later this year, and coming soon Awkward Thanksgiving, it’s clear to see the Couto continues to dive into the realm of different genres.  For most that know better, the true passion that this director has when it comes to his work is producing horror and suspenseful films.  Friday night, Couto will be releasing his newest film, Haunted House on Sorority Row at Englewood Cinemas.

Haunted House on Sorority Row centers around a group of young college girls who have become disenchanted with the other sororities on campus.  The leader of the group has located a house that is a little outside of town. When the girls are checking out the house, they learn that there has been some talk that it’s haunted. The girls brush it off, and purchased the house.  After doing some repairs and refurbishing of the home, the fledgling sorority is ready to get some new recruits in to be with the first four girls.  As soon as they unpack and start to get situated, some dark and disturbing incidents start to occur.  The screenplay writer, John Oak Dalton, along with Couto take these young girls through psychological horror as they try to find out what’s truly the reasoning for what is happening between the four walls.  “It really is about you have to face your fear if you want to move on”, explains Couto.  “Otherwise, it will kill you.”

The movie was shot in Waynesville, Ohio in a house that actually belongs to a member of the production’s family.  Owned by at least eight individuals in the family, the house is primary used for storage and for family gatherings.  “We didn’t know that it had a basement”, Couto says.  “It turns out that it had a root cellar with a basement…and it’s terrifying.  To walk down into, it’s scary.  So, we have some good scenes down there.”  The filming didn’t take long, only taking two weekends.  With the work on Haunted House on Sorority Row, Couto decided to throw out his normal ways of recording and really let loose.  He experimented with different camera angels, different lightning, and even tinkered around with fog.  What viewers should expect is a movie that is terrifying, and will make sit at the edge of your seat.  “I’ve been making horror movies on and off for a long time, and I think that this is the scariest thing I’ve made”, proclaims Couto.  “The combination of experience and the playground that I had to work with, I was able to make a scarier movie.  Its visually  scary.  I feel like once you are in that house, you aren’t getting out.”  When you hear Couto discuss Haunted House on Sorority Row, you see and hear how excited he is about this film.  “The movie has so much set pieces, special effects, makeup…it’s hugely ambitious”, declares Couto.

After making Haunted House on Sorority Row, Couto mentioned that he wants to make another film that involves ghosts.  “I enjoyed the experimenting”, explained Couto.

What Couto doesn’t realize-he is always experimenting.

The world premiere of Haunted House On Sorority Row will be shown  at Englewood Cinemas on Friday night, February 21.  10pm showing.  $8 admission.   

Dayton Art Institute Features Contemporary Still-Life Paintings of Isabella Kirkland

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Dayton Art Institute Isabella KirklandRendered in the crystalline clarity of 17th-century Dutch still-life paintings, Kirkland’s portraits of flora and fauna present a dazzling array of detail that straddles art history, scientific illustration and natural history. Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life will be on view February 22 – May 18 at the museum.

“Shown together for the first time, the works in Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life are sure to be of interest to lovers of art as well as scientific study,” says The DAI’s Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to bring this timely exhibition to Dayton.” The special exhibition is made possible by support from Patron Sponsor DP&L Foundation, and Supporting Sponsors Energy Optimizers, USA, The Miami Valley School, Miller-Valentine Group, Perfection Group, Square One Salon and Spa, and Tridec Technologies, LLC.

Still-life painting first flourished in the Netherlands during the early 1600s, although German and French painters were also early participants in the development, and less continuous traditions of Italian and Spanish still-life painting date from the same period. Many of the objects depicted in these early works remind the viewer of an edifying concept, such as worldly vanity or temperance. Moralizing meanings were also common in still-life paintings of the 17th century. Floral still lifes were especially prominent in the early 1600s, and their highly refined execution, subjects and symbolism were addressed to a cultivated audience. Painters from this period, such as Jan Fyt and Roelandt Savery, often referred to herbals and other botanical texts when composing “bouquets,” which typically combined flowers from different countries, and even different continents, in one vase and at one moment of blooming. For many courtly collectors and wealthy merchants, a flower picture was part of a private domain that included a garden with rare specimens, colored drawings or watercolors of rare tulips and other unusual flowers, and a small library of botanical books and prints. “Building on this tradition, contemporary artist Isabella Kirkland composes her own unique 21st-century ‘bouquets’ that deliver an arresting and timely narrative about the degradation and homogenization of our own environment,” says The Dayton Art Institute’s Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Dr. Aimee Marcereau DeGalan, who organized and curated the exhibition.

Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life brings together more than 50 of Kirkland’s works, as well as a host of preparatory drawings and studies in a variety of media. With their luscious colors and high-gloss finishes, some of which took more than a year to create, these elaborate paintings provide a bridge between science and the humanities in brilliant color.

In conjunction with Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life, The Dayton Art Institute will present In Bloom: Selections from the Collection of The Dayton Art Institute. The exhibition includes nearly 20 works from The DAI’s permanent collection, ranging from the 17th through the 21st centuries. From floral still lifes to garden delights, it will present some of the museum’s finest examples, as well as some lesser-known works, to highlight and explore this popular genre.

A companion Lecture Series will examine the fascinating overlap of science, history and art. The speakers will discuss and consider evolving ideas about art and nature, in response to Isabella Kirkland’s remarkable paintings that document and comment on species loss and environmental change. Scheduled talks include an Artist Lecture by Isabella Kirkland on February 20 at 6:30 p.m., Dutch Still-Life Painting of the Golden Age on March 1 at 3 p.m., Isabella Kirkland: Transforming Perception on March 15 at 3 p.m., Gathering Nature in a Time of Extinction: Isabella Kirkland’s Ecological Art on April 12 at 3 p.m., and Bio-Diversity and Isabella Kirkland on April 26 at 3 p.m.

The Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life Lecture Series is free to students and museum members, and included in museum or special exhibition admission for non-members. All lectures will be held in the museum’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium, with the exception of Bio-Diversity and Isabella Kirkland on April 26, which will be held at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. The Stilled Life Lecture Series is supported by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council.

Visit www.daytonartinstitute.org/stilledlife to learn more about the exhibitions, the Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life Lecture Series, and related events and programs. Admission to the exhibitions is free for museum members; $12 adults; $9 seniors (60+), students (18+ w/ID), active military and groups (10 or more); and $6 youth (ages 7-17). Children (6 & under) are free. Prices include admission to both special exhibitions and the museum’s permanent collection. A $1 per transaction Historic Preservation Fee will be added to all ticket sales. Docent-led tours of the special exhibition are available for individuals, groups and schools. Contact Group Sales and Tour Coordinator Donna Young, at 937-512-0152 or [email protected], for more information or to book a tour. For more information about exhibitions, events and programs at The Dayton Art Institute, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

Victoria’s 2014-2015 season offers ‘Billy,’ ‘Joseph,’ ‘Mormon’ & More

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mormon

Cast members of “The Book of Mormon”
Photo by Joan Marcus

The Victoria Theatre Association combines recognizable titles with fresher fare for a 2014-2015 season absolutely bound to please unlike any other lineup from the organization in recent memory.
The Premier Health Broadway Series, Projects Unlimited Variety Series, Star Attractions and PNC Family Series were announced Thursday, Feb. 13 in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center. Emceed by Larry Hansgen of WHIO AM/FM, the event incorporated business and community leaders, media personalities and Victoria subscribers in addition to Victoria donors and friends. Attractive promotional banners and an assortment of entertaining production snippets also accented the breezy ceremony.


Curiously, the Star Attractions can be considered the true headliners, especially 2011’s “The Book of Mormon,” the irreverent, naughty, nine-time Tony-winning joy ride from the creators of “South Park” and “Avenue Q.”  The musical, which will only run one week and is sure to quickly sell out, should have jumpstarted the organization’s 2015-2016 lineup (it arrives in August 2015 after all), but kudos to the Victoria for securing such a hot commodity and being willing to push the envelope as never before. Also, Stephen Schwartz’s popular “Wicked” will return to the Schuster Center for the third time and for three weeks. Even so, I’m particularly thrilled for the overdue local premiere of 2010’s “Billy Elliot,” the remarkable 10-time Tony-winning Best Musical based on the outstanding 2000 film of the same name about a young boy’s passion for ballet.

 

The Broadway Series, always the main attraction, supplies a very promising six-show slate. Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” is an odd inclusion (a tour has launched in celebration of the show’s 135th anniversary), but be thankful for 2012’s five-time Tony-winning play “Peter and the Starcatcher” (a “Peter Pan” prequel full of brilliant storytelling and stagecraft), 2012’s charming Gershwin outing “Nice Work If You Canjoseph Get It,” the tuneful return of 1995’s “Smokey Joe’s Café” (which played the Victoria Theatre during its last engagement well over a decade ago) featuring legendary troupe the Coasters,  a new, vocally enticing production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” starring “American Idol” alums/husband and wife Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo, and the Human Race Theatre Company’s local premiere of Christopher Durang’s dysfunctional family comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” the 2013 Tony winner for Best Play.


The Variety Series supplies evenings with Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee/singer-songwriter J.D. Souther (ABC’s “Nashville”), mind reader/comedian Eric Dittelman, and the Nobodies of Comedy Tour featuring up-and-coming comedians who have appeared on Comedy Central, “Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” The Family Series features Zoot Theatre Company’s production of “The Velveteen Rabbit” in addition to tours of “Pinkalicious: The Musical” and “Robin Hood.”
“Every show and every Season is a leap of faith,” said Victoria and Arts Center Foundation CEO and President Ken Neufeld in a press statement. “Certain shows touch us and inspire us to share the story, the songs and the message with our audience. 2014-2015 will be a season audiences will reconnect with some familiar titles that may surprise them as well as connect with some of the very best work from the contemporary stage for both the Premier Health Broadway Series and Star Attractions.”


Season tickets for the 2014-2015 Broadway Series and Variety Series are on sale now by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visiting online at www.ticketcenterstage.com. Single tickets will go on sale this summer. Single tickets for “The Book of Mormon” and “Wicked” will specifically go on sale in 2015. Additional Star Attractions and Family Series selections as well as the lineups for the Cool Films Series and National Geographic Live! Series will be revealed at a later date.


2014-2015 Premier Health Broadway Series

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Oct. 21-26, 2014 – Schuster Center)

 

Smokey Joe’s Café (Nov. 11-23, 2014 – Victoria Theatre)

 

The Pirates of Penzance (Jan. 20-25, 2015 – Schuster Center)

 

Nice Work If You Can Get It (Feb. 10-15, 2015 – Schuster Center)

 

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (March 10-22, 2015 – Victoria Theatre)

 

Peter and the Starcatcher (June 9-14, 2015 – Schuster Center)

 

2014-2015 Star Attractions
Billy Elliot: The Musical (Nov. 28-30, 2014 – Schuster Center)

 

Wicked (Apr. 29-May 17, 2015 – Schuster Center)

 

The Book of Mormon (Aug. 18-23, 2015 – Schuster Center)

 

2014-2015 Projects Unlimited Variety Series

 

Singer/songwriter J.D. Souther (Oct. 10, 2014 – Victoria Theatre)

Mind reader/comedian Eric Dittelman (Feb. 6, 2015 – Victoria Theatre)

 

The Nobodies of Comedy Tour (Apr. 10, 2015 – Victoria Theatre)

 

2014-2015 PNC Family Series

 

The Velveteen Rabbit (Dec. 6, 2014 – Victoria Theatre)

 

Pinkalicious (Feb. 2, 2015 – Victoria Theatre)

 

Robin Hood (May 2, 2015 – Victoria Theatre)

 

 

For more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com or www.victoriaheatre.com

Sunny Drake To Perform Transgender Seeking… at Antioch College

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Sunny Drake (photo by Tania Anderson)

Sunny Drake (photo by Tania Anderson)

The Antioch College performance program is hosting Transgender Seeking…, a solo performance by artist Sunny Drake on Friday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Glen Helen Auditorium.

Drake, an award-winning Australian queer and transgender theater maker, performer and educator will explore queer relationships as “the space between our big political visions and our messy lives in trying to live up to them.”

Recently featured in Gscene Gay Magazine, writer Eric Page wrote, “Drake is one of those rare provocative performers who are uber-smart but ultra cozy at heart… one of the most interesting and touching performances I’ve seen in a while.”

Based in Toronto, Drake has toured his work extensively in Canada, Europe and the United States. He recently won the SummerWorks RBC Professional Artist Award (Canada’s biggest juried theater festival), and was honored by NOW Magazine (Toronto) for “Outstanding Performance” and “Outstanding Design.”

Transgender Seeking… has been generously supported by Antioch College’s Community Council, and is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Gabrielle Civil, associate professor of performance, at [email protected].

Little Art Theatre Brings London’s National Theatre Live to the Miami Valley

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littleart-reopen-mThe Little Art Theatre, which completed a half-million dollar renovation in 2013, will present productions from London’s National Theatre beginning this month. National Theatre Live is a groundbreaking project that broadcasts the best of British theatre from the London stage to cinemas around the world. Each broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in the theatre, with cameras positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the “best seat in the house” view of each production.

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus will open the series, with screenings on Saturday, February 22, at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, February 26, at 7 p.m. The hit production War Horse will be shown on March 22 and 26, followed by King Lear on May 24 and 28 and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on May 31 and June 4.

Coriolanus, Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge, stars Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, War Horse, Thor) in the title role and Mark Gatiss (BBC’s Sherlock) as Menenius. Variety offered this praise: “Making enthralling theater out of one of Shakespeare’s best-known titles is one thing. It’s an achievement of an altogether higher order to take the austerely forbidding ‘Coriolanus’—an argumentative tragedy discussing the demands of politics and the power of the people—and turn it into a theatrical triumph. But that’s exactly what [director] Josie Rourke has done. Thanks to an ideally dovetailed ensemble led by a scorching Tom Hiddleston, tension builds, fills the theater and never flags throughout an all-consuming evening.” Coriolanus has a running time of 180 minutes.

Tickets for the National Theatre Live presentations are $20 for everyone and are available in advance online at www.littleart.com (under the Calendar tab) and at the door. The Little Art Theatre is located at 247 Xenia Avenue in downtown Yellow Springs, Ohio. Information and directions are available at www.littleart.com or by calling 937-767-7671.

Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame Nomination Forms Now Online

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hof_medal_300Nominations are being sought for 2014 Dayton Theatre Hall Of Fame inductees. Any member of the Dayton arts community is eligible to receive this annual award designed to recognize individuals who have dedicated themselves to theatre arts in Dayton. Completed nomination forms and two letters of recommendation must be received by May 10, 2014 and will be reviewed by the Hall of Fame Committee. Online nominations can now be submitted by going to www.daytonys.org or you can receive a nomination form by contacting the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame Nomination Committee Chair, Barbara Jorgensen, at [email protected].

Established in 2002, the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame was created to honor local theatre artists and patrons of the arts. It is designed to acknowledge people whose life-long participation, innovation, and creativity have influenced the Dayton arts culture. The Hall Of Fame recognizes their contributions to the arts by perpetuating their legacies. The Induction Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the annual DayTony Awards Presentation on August 9, 2014 at Sinclair Community College.  The Awards Ceremony is open to the public. The 2013 inductees were Darrel Anderson, Chris Harmon, John Kenley, and Kay Frances Wean. The Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame is operated and governed by the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame Executive Committee.

 

 

 

 

The Human Race Theatre Company Offers Winter/Spring Theatre Classes for Adults and Kids

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The Human Race Theatre CompanyThis March and April, The Human Race Theatre Company is offering three theatre classes for Dayton-area adults, and two classes for young girls. The classes run 4 to 8 weeks and are taught by professionals in the theatre industry, including three Human Race Resident Artists. All classes take place at The Human Race’s Philips Creativity Center at 116 North Jefferson Street in downtown Dayton.

CLASSES FOR ADULTS

Acting Basics
Human Race Resident Artist Kay Bosse teaches the craft of acting and auditioning in a safe and non-threatening atmosphere. Students will explore the vocabulary and techniques essential to understanding the world of the actor, and discover how to build a realistic and original character and the secrets to analyzing a script. Personal attention will also be focused on individual interests and exploration of media trends. This six-session class runs Mondays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 and April 7, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The class fee is $150.00.

Playwrighting – Level II

Playwright Michael M. London continues the instruction begun in this winter’s Playwrighting ­– Level I course. While still looking closely at the dramatic structure of a story, students will also focus attention on other aspects of storytelling and the building of a play. There will be a lot of writing, a lot of thinking, some mutual support from other playwrights, a fair amount of laughing, some tasty food at breaks, and a general atmosphere of fun and learning. Each playwright will have a goal of completing a one-act play that will be presented in a public reading. Playwrights will have the opportunity to hear their work read aloud by actors and prepared by directors. Prerequisite: Playwrighting – Level I or permission from the instructor. This eight-session class runs Saturdays, March 8, 15, 22 and 29 and April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.The class fee is $200.00.

Reading Music

Learning to read music has been compared to learning a new language, very daunting for many. However, if you can count to seven, you may find this process easier than you thought. Assigning seven tones of the scale to the numbers 1 through 7 allows for easier recognition of notes, intervals, chords and even keys. Lead by Human Race Resident Artist Scott Stoney, this course is designed to get would-be singers started on the road to reading music and hearing pitches. A bit of homework will be given from week to week. This five-session class runs Saturdays, March 29 and April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The class fee is $120.00.

CLASS FOR GIRLS

Becoming Annie

Human Race Resident Artist Katie Pees leads this month-long adventure in musical theatre where girls ages 8 – 12 work on vocal coachings, dance techniques and character development using songs and choreography from the Broadway hit Annie. Aspiring actresses will be ready to sing their favorite songs and dance like a star to “It’s a Hard Knock Life”, “Tomorrow” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” There will be a sharing session on the last day of class. This four-session class runs Saturdays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The class fee is $110.00.

Becoming Cinderella

Almost every young girl has a magical wish to become Cinderella and now they get to try on that glass slipper! Guided by professional actress and music educator Kandis Wean, students learn the gorgeous song melodies and lyrics of Rogers and Hammerstein’s current Broadway musical, Cinderella. Girls will kick up their feet with dance choreography that brings the enchantment to life as they strive to be a believable princess on stage. Students will perform a short show for parents and guests on the last day of class. This five-session class runs Saturdays, April 5, 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The class fee is $110.00.

Registration is required one week prior to the first class date and can be made through The Human Race Theatre Company’s website – www.humanracetheatre.org.

For more information on classes and scholarship opportunities for children, interested students and parents may contact Education Director Marilyn Klaben at (937) 461-3823 ext. 3132 or[email protected].

The Human Race Theatre Company was founded in 1986 and moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 212-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces for the Victoria Theatre’s Broadway Series, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore, also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, and summer youth programs. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, the Shubert Foundation, the Erma R. Catterton Trust Fund, the Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation Fund for the Development of New Works, the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council, which helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The 2013-2014 season sponsor is the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation, with additional support from Jim and Enid Goubeaux, KeyBank, the Sam Levin Foundation, Premier Health, Heidelberg Distributing Company and Morris Home Furnishings.

Spend Father’s Day With Bill Cosby!

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Bill-Cosby-620x480The last time Bill Cosby was in Dayton was 2003, when he was the last act to play at Memorial Hall, before they mothballed it.  Now 11 years later, one of America’s most beloved comedians of all time, Cosby, whose comedy transcends age, gender and cultural barriers, will return to town to play  the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, Sunday, June 15 at 7 pm. Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums and best-selling books, including “Fatherhood,” “Time Flies” and his current bestseller, “I Didn’t Ask to Be Born, (But I’m Glad I Was.)”

 

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Bill Cosby broke television’s racial barrier with “I Spy,” becoming the first African American to co-star on a television series while winning three consecutive Emmys©. He created and produced the Emmy©-winning cartoon “Fat Albert” and the “Cosby Kids,” which began airing in the 1970s and was made into a film in 2004. The show, based upon Cosby’s childhood in Philadelphia, was designed to educate and entertain.

The former Navy serviceman’s illustrious list of accomplishments includes roles on the children’s educational show “Electric Company” and creating and producing the Emmy© award winning “Little Bill,” which is based on his bestselling book series. Cosby has received the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (America’s highest civilian honor), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the Marian Anderson Award. Among his many awards for his stand-up comedy albums are five Grammy© Awards, eight Gold and five Platinum records.

Perhaps Cosby’s greatest contribution to American entertainment and culture is “The Cosby Show,” about a close-knit, upper class black family. Cosby said his intent was to portray an American family. Time magazine called the show “an encouraging sign of maturity in matters of race.”  “The Cosby Show” dominated the No. 1 spot for years, earning nearly unanimous critical praise. Life magazine described the program as “a gentle, whimsical, warmhearted” show whose “delicious ordinariness of its pleasures and tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective on their own domestic lives.”

Don’t miss the iconic Bill Cosby at the Schuster Center, on his Comedy Central “Far From Finished Tour“, Sunday, June 15 at 7 pm! Tickets go on sale Feb. 14, and start at just $39.25. Ticket are available the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, located in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center or by phone at 937-228-3630, 888-228-3630 and online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

 

Godzilla Set To Invade Yellow Springs Playhouse

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QUICK!  LOOK!

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

IT’S GODZILLA!

The 500 foot dinosaur-like creature that has rough, bumpy gray scales and  a long tail that could wipe out buildings with a single swipe.  The lizard that has terrorized Japan and the world will once again come to instigate havoc on the mainland.

The Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse will be presenting the musical parody of GODZILLA!, written by Corrie Van Ausdal in collaboration with Phillip and Gordon Reynolds and musician Blaze Wright.  The show will begn  starting tonight at the Glen Building in Yellow Springs.

For those who aren’t aware of the story involving Godzilla, the story begins in the island called Lagos Island.  By surviving the extinction of the dinosaurs, Godzilla mutated to be the its size by the nuclear fallout of atomic bomb tests performed on the island near Lagos Island called Rongerik.  Godzilla was awakened when an American hydrogen bomb was tested in the Pacific Ocean.  The large monster made its way toward Tokyo, with the goal of destroying much of the city.  The fictional character was conceived and came to the big screen for the first time in 1954.  Since then, Godzilla has become a huge phenomenon in the entire monster movies ever created.  In the Japanese pop culture, Godzilla is still widely popular and is still one most recognizable feature.

The Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse was founded in 1995 and was a summer theater experience for the youth.  The playhouse started commissioning original musicals from playwrights regional and nationally couple of years later.  The mission is simple-develop youth who are interested in being future actors, leaders, patrons, and audiences and enhance art awareness in the community.  To achieve this, they will do it through the education of arts and the creation of original multimedia theater for youth.  Over 1200 youths have participated in the productions, with some going off to becoming professionals in theatre and performing arts.

 GODZILLA! centers around the 500 foot monster rising from the sea and destroying everything that gets in its way.  The cast of teens and young adults will travel around the world, risking their lives and hoping the save all mankind.  The play will feature visual effects by local graphic artist Zane Reichert, as well as live sound effects and music directed by Xavier Suarez.  Also part of the production are Bear Wright, Duard Headley and Sumayah Chappelle.  Along with these folks are  musicians Sam Salazar and Jason McClean , sound effects creator Maddie Allen, Assistant Director/Antioch student Hannah Craig, and Stage Manager Amy Cunningham.  All of the  performances will also showcase a one-night only celebrity guest star.

GODZILLA! will be taking over Yellow Springs starting tonight at Glen Building, which is located at 405 Corry Street.  The performance dates and times are:

February 8th @ 7pm

February 9th @ 3pm

February 14th @ 7pm

February 15th @ 7pm & 10pm

Tickets $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students.

‘The Magic Fire’ Review – Wright State University – Our Private World

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magic fire

The cast of Wright State University’s production of “The Magic Fire” (Contributed photo)

Wright State University returns to sophisticated fare with a beautifully executed regional premiere of Lillian Groag’s semi-autobiographical, thought-provoking Argentinean drama “The Magic Fire.”

Commissioned and originally produced in 1997 by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the engrossing, highbrow “Magic Fire” concerns a close-knit family of European immigrants living in Buenos Aires circa 1952 during the divisive Juan Peron regime. As chaos consumes the streets with ever-present military force, the argumentative, opinionated, opera-adoring Bergs are reticent to join the fray, opting instead to safeguard themselves within their own private world of culture and music they hope cannot be vanquished. The symbolism of their behavior and the play’s title astutely mirrors the final act of Richard Wagner’s opera “Die Walküre,” specifically Wotan’s decision to encircle his sleeping daughter Brünnhilde with an artificial wall of fire that only the bravest of men can penetrate. However, when the brother of the family’s housekeeper seeks shelter in their home, it becomes impossible to ignore the political turmoil swirling in their midst.

Groag’s poetic, female-driven look at differing generations and changing times is simultaneously endearing and confusing in its scope. Her decision to conceive the material as a nearly three-hour memory play lends itself to numerous moments of heartfelt earnestness and subtle grandeur, but the key reason why narrator/protagonist Lise (Layan Elwazani) looks back on her life is muddled. In Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” one of the greatest memory plays, disillusioned Tom is kicked out of his home by his domineering mother only to be haunted by the memory of his fragile sister, prompting him to reflect. Here, it is a mystery why Lise so emphatically desires nostalgia. Nonetheless, despite conceptual flaws including an abundance of overlapping arcs, director Lee Merill supplies elegant stage pictures bolstered by her innate grasp of classical music and superbly evocative assistance from lighting designer Samantha Jelinek.

The aforementioned Elwazani is an emotionally strong focal point seamlessly weaving in and out of the flashbacks shaped around the events of Lise’s seventh birthday. She also establishes a gentle kinship with the adorably precocious Ally Miller, who portrays young Lise with tenderness and feistiness. As Otto Berg, Lise’s father who fled Nazi-occupied Austria, Mathys Herbert excellently grasps the character’s pivotal choices and deep affection for opera. DeLee Cooper (who also choreographs) is a genial presence as Amalia, Otto’s dutiful wife. Mimi Klipstine completely satisfies as diva Elena Guarneri, Amalia’s actress-sister out of work because she refuses to support Peron. Tommy DiMassimo vigorously inhabits Gianni “Juan” Guarneri, Amalia’s passionate father. Kristina Hopkins is perfectly tipsy as Paula Guarneri, Amalia’s aunt. The terrifically expressive Alyssa Brembeck charms as 98-year-old Mussolini-hating matriarch Maddalena Guarneri, who arrived in Argentina with her husband in 1890. The handsome Stephen Kell is fittingly authoritative and enigmatic as General Henri Fontannes, a Peron loyalist and neighbor of the Bergs specifically drawn to young Lise. Logan Torbet is firm and fiery as newspaper publisher Alberto Barcos, who despises Peron and therefore loathes Henri. Jasmine Easler brings quiet dignity and a no-nonsense sensibility to her role as housekeeper Rosa Arrua. Diana Frankhauser (Clara Stepaneck), Julia Gomez (Leila) and Julian Rojas (Santa Arrua) are noteworthy. Taylor Hinkle portrays young Lise at certain performances. Merrill’s first-rate artistic team includes costumer David J. Castellano, scenic designer Lydia Watson (filling the revolving stage with trunks and crates suggesting a family on the move), sound designer James Dunlap, and dialect coach Deborah Thomas.

In related news, WSU’s 40th anniversary 2014-15 season will consist of “Fences” (Sept. 18-28, co-directed by W. Stuart McDowell and Sheila Ramsey), “Hot Mikado” (Oct. 23-Nov. 9, directed by Greg Hellems with choreography by Teressa Wylie McWilliams), “Romeo and Juliet” (Nov. 14-23, directed by Sandra Crews in the Herbst Theatre) “Pride and Prejudice” (Jan. 29-Feb. 8, directed by Marya Spring Cordes), the musical “Peter Pan” (Mar. 19-Apr. 5, directed by Joe Deer and starring Bruce Cromer as Captain Hook), and the local premiere of “Sondheim on Sondheim” (Apr. 17-26, directed by Jamie Cordes in the Herbst Theatre).

“The Magic Fire” continues through Feb. 9 in the Festival Playhouse of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. Performances are Feb. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m., Feb. 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 8 and 9 at 2 p.m. Act One: 1 hour and 50 minutes; Act Two: 45 minutes. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 seniors and students. For tickets or more information, call the WSU box office at (937) 775-2500.

A Muse Sparkles Brightly at the DCDC ReVisioning Concert

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photo

What makes a legend? In the dance world, it is a dancer whose singular talent that has been burnished to a blinding artistic brilliance by time. Sheri “Sparkle” Williams, the vessel for the post modern choreographic sensibilities of Rodney Brown, is that legend.

“The Gathering/wee Thing” had it’s world premiere in 2012 as part of the world premiere of the Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar Documentary Film “Sparkle” at the Dayton Art Institute.
I had the great fortune of being in the audience for the sold out event, a powerful testimony to the magical allure of Sheri “Sparkle” Williams, and bearing witness to her masterful talents. The powerful combination of Rodney Brown’s multifaceted and textured choreography and the magisterial interpretive skills was absolutely intoxicating.

As a reviewer I am grateful for the opportunity to revisit this work and that a larger audience will get an opportunity to experience this indelibly awe-inspiring work of art.

The fact that Sheri “Sparkle” Williams is receiving the Ohio Governors Award for Arts Excellence this spring is another reason we all need to be at this concert to show our appreciation and gratitude for a woman and an artist who defies categorization and all the normal laws of the physical universe. I cannot imagine any obstacles or excuses for not attending this show.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ_EFJquDwQ

ReVisioning 45: New Works Unveiled
Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 3:00pm
Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
For tickets to ReVisioning 45: New Works Unveiled please contact Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630 or 888-228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Antioch College’s Herndon Gallery Hosts Night Of Performance To Close Currencies Exhibition

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Gabrielle Civil performs at Antioch College's Herndon Gallery

Gabrielle Civil performs at Antioch College’s Herndon Gallery

The Herndon Gallery on Antioch College’s campus will host an evening of performances on Friday, February 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  This event will close the current exhibition, Currencies, which presents the work of current Antioch arts faculty and resident scholars.

The evening will include dance performances by Jill Becker, associate professor of dance at the former College, and a National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer’s Fellowship recipient, and Melissa Heston, a collaborative dance and theatre artist who performs regionally and internationally. Becker and Heston will begin by performing solos and duets improvised with a  “love” theme—sappy, romantic, dreamy, love-sick, love-lost, melancholy, first love, etc.  In addition, Heston will perform an excerpt from Bon Voyage, a piece choreographed in 2003 with music by Yann Tierson. Becker will be performing a solo piece, “What I want to say is…,” that moves between the private and public self.

Louise Smith, an actor, writer, and educator, and currently Antioch’s dean of community life, will be performing One Don’t Operate Without the Other, a performance poem about darkness. This piece premiered in Cincinnati last year at the Time Arts Series, and is inspired by Jungian ideas about the unconscious mind and how it expresses itself through language, the body and the world around us. Smith is a 2003 Obie Award winner for her work in A Painted Snake in a Painted Chair.

Gabrielle Civil, a poet, conceptual and performance artist, and associate professor of performance at Antioch College, will be performing “and then . . .” This piece features Nicolas Daily, resident life manager, with video by Cristian Perez Lopez ’17. Civil writes of this new piece, “Break out the Happy Meal, it’s Valentine’s Day. What to do with the space before, during and after love? With loud sound, movement, video, naughty texts and more, this work offers upside down roses, black kisses and trying to cry. There is a parental advisory due to its explicit content. Not for the faint of heart.”

The evening of performances is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Dennie Eagleson, creative director of the Herndon Gallery, at 937 768 6462 or e-mail her at [email protected].

 

‘Working’ Review – Dayton Playhouse – It’s a Living

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working

Suzanne Clabaugh and William “Kip” Moore rehearse a scene from “Working” with director Jim Lockwood (Contributed photo)

The Dayton Playhouse delivers an admirable, often touching production of Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso’s 1978 musical “Working,” based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book “Working: People Talk About What They Do and How They Feel About What They Do.”

Nearly 30 wide-ranging occupations from a publicist and project manager to a community organizer and fundraiser are the lifeblood of this meaningful, intermissionless outing insightfully conceived from a series of interviews. The allure of the material, including additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg, rests in its endearing simplicity reminding us that every worker contributes to the productivity of our society. Some jobs may seem trivial or underhanded, but all of them undeniably serve a purpose. The dialogue, flowing with smooth transitions by director Jim Lockwood, is peppered with personality and depth by an assortment of terrific songwriters including Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers, Micki Grant and James Taylor. The Playhouse uses the revised 2011 version, which particularly trims the cast to six and incorporates new professions (including a Verizon tech support and fast food delivery employee) and two songs from Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (“In the Heights”). Interestingly, the revised script also effectively remembers the unemployed.

A true ensemble showcase, “Working” features enjoyable, entertaining portrayals from a vocally sufficient cast. Matt Poliachik incites laughs and groans as a privileged student who seemingly has his life all planned out. He also offers a sincerely plaintive rendition of Carnelia’s wonderful Billy Joel-esque tune “The Mason.” Matthew Clifton is equally humorous as the aforementioned fast food worker and a crazed ex-newsroom assistant. Lynn Kesson, sweet and grounded, particularly joins Clifton for the impactful duet “A Very Good Day,” which focuses on the joys and concerns of an elder care worker and a nanny. Suzanne Clabaugh gives credence to her earthy assignments as a prostitute and cleaning lady. Tori T. Tuccillo adeptly inhabits an agitated school teacher (“Nobody Tells Me How”) and an energetic waitress (“It’s an Art”). In addition to rendering a tender version of Schwartz’s moving “Fathers and Sons,” William “Kip” Moore, in a welcomed return to the Playhouse, simply mesmerizes as a retiree discussing the monotony of his daily routine (“Joe”).
Scenic designer Chris Newman’s metropolitan backdrop, Allison Eder’s understatedly organic choreography, and musical director Lorri B. Topping’s fine onstage band are added benefits.

“Working” continues through Feb. 16 at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The production is performed in 90 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. For tickets or more information, call (937) 424-8477 or visit online at www.daytonplayhouse.com

 

 

 

 

 

ARMSTRONG LIE & OSCAR SHORTS Open Friday at THE NEON!

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2014-oscar-animated-shorts1Hello Everyone,

We’re truckin’ right along with new titles at THE NEON. If you haven’t had a chance to see INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, Thursday will be your last chance to see it with us. On Friday, we will open the new documentary THE ARMSTRONG LIE as well as the Animated Short and Live Action Short Contenders for this year’s OSCAR Race. THE INVISIBLE WOMAN will stick around for another week – though showtimes are limited. Remaining showtimes for this week can be found at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE ARMSTRONG LIE: “In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong’s comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong’s confession.” (Taken from Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

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Synopsis for THE OSCAR SHORTS: “ShortsHD is once again bringing the wildly popular OSCAR Nominated Short Film programs to theaters around the globe. The theatrical release of The OSCAR Nominated Short Films has met enthusiastic audiences ever since its launch 8 years ago – giving people around the world an opportunity to see the nominated films prior to the OSCAR Awards ceremony on March 2nd.” (taken from press notes) On Feb. 7, THE NEON will open 2 Programs – LIVE ACTION and ANIMATION. (On Feb. 14, THE NEON plans to open the DOCUMENTARY Program.) Click this LINK to visit the official site for these programs.

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“The Miamisburg Malayalee Organization is arranging the screening of the highly acclaimed Indian film DRISHYAM on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11:30am. This drama-thriller was written and directed by Jeethu Joseph and stars Mohanlal and Meena. ‘After his family commits an unexpected crime, a man desperately tries to save them from getting in trouble with the law.’ If you would like more details about reserving a ticket and helping to sponsor this event, please contact the organization at (937)654-7715. Remaining tickets will be available at the door for $10 each.” This just in!  This film will unfortunately NOT be subtitled!

“The Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton, an African American based organization, will hold a fundraiser with the film SANKOFA on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Noon. This film is about an African American model on a photo shoot in Africa who has an ancestral experience which transforms her life and consciousness. ‘Sankofa’ is an Akan word that means ‘we must go back and reclaim our past so that we can move forward.’ The profit from this event will fund scholarships to graduating seniors in the Miami Valley. Applications will be available at the event in case you know a worthy student to submit to the organization. Tickets may be purchased at the Neon for $30. (Student tickets are $15 each.) The price includes a movie ticket, popcorn, soda, and a glass of wine for adults.” (Taken from press notes.)

Thanks for your continued support.

Oscar Ballots are now available at our Box Office. Take one home, toil over it, and bring it back on March 2 for your chance to win great prizes!

We hope to see many of you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Feb. 7 – Thursday, Feb. 13:

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (R) 1 hrs 51 min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:30, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 5:15
Thursday: 12:15, 5:15

THE ARMSTRONG LIE (R) 2 hr 04 min
Friday: 12:00, 4:50, 9:40
Saturday: 4:50, 9:40
Sunday: 12:00, 4:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:40

OSCAR SHORTS – ANIMATED (NR – suggested PG) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 5:10, 9:45
Sunday: 12:30, 5:10
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:45

OSCAR SHORTS – LIVE ACTION (NR – suggested R) 1 Hr 53 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:45, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:20

DRISHYAM (NR) 2 Hr 40 Min
Saturday: 11:30am

FACEBOOK DETECTIVE (NR)
Thursday: Noon
(one-time screening of a soon-to-be Lifetime Movie)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
TBD – THE PAST
TBD – GLORIA
March 7 – OMAR
TBD – GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
TBD – TIM’S VERMEER
TBD – LE WEEK-END
TBD – THE LUNCHBOX