Arts & Entertainment

Human Race Theatre Company Presents RACE + TICKET CONTEST

March 28, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Human Race Theatre is taking its core mission—“to present universal themes that explore the human condition and startle us all into a renewed awareness of ourselves”—to heart with David Mamet’s Race. No stranger to divisive topics or candid conversation, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Mamet (American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross) takes on the explosive subject of race relations. When two cynical lawyers—one black and one white—prepare to defend a powerful white businessman accused of raping a young black woman, they must confront their own perceptions and prejudices. Legal and ethical lines are crossed as shocking revelations come to light. But when their client’s case takes a series of unexpected turns, they realize that not everyone is who they seem in this world of shame and guilt.

Filled with David Mamet’s signature “Mamet speak” true-to-life dialogue and his desire to press hot-button issues, Race has recently become a popular play for regional theatres across the country after its 2009 Broadway premiere, produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, JK Productions, Peggy Hill and Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, Scott M. Delman, Terry Allen Kramer/James L. Nederlander, Swinsky Deitch, Bat-Berry Productions, Ronald Frankel, James Fuld Jr., Kathleen K. Johnson, Terry Schnuck, The Weinstein Company, Marc Frankel and Jay and Cindy Gutterman/Stewart Mercer.

The Human Race Theatre’s production of Race is directed by Resident Artist Richard E. Hess (Doubt, Red, A Delicate Balance), Chair of Drama at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. In preparing for the task, Hess embraced Mamet’s exploration of a universal—though rarely admitted to—truth. “Racism exists in all of us. We are all prejudiced. We are all carefully taught,” he states. “David Mamet dares to point an unwavering finger at prejudice in Race. The story feels like it’s ripped from the headlines of tomorrow’s news.”

Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore is just as excited about the script. “When I first read Race I could not put it down,” says Moore. “Similar to a good ‘who-done-it’, I loved the dramatic twists and turns. The collision of great theatre and compelling message made it a ‘must see’ for our audiences.”

The 4-member cast includes Human Race Resident Artists Bruce Cromer (Brother Wolf, I am My Own Wife), Alan Bomar Jones (Gem of the Ocean, Permanent Collection) and Michael Kenwood Lippert (Red, The Sunset Limited), plus actress Julia Pace Mitchell (“Sofia Dupre” on The Young and the Restless). “It is rare when we can pull together so many of our talented Resident Artists into one project. I am thrilled to have Alan, Bruce, Michael and Richard all working on this powerful script,” says Kevin Moore. “And the addition of Julia, the gifted newcomer, will add just the right spice to this ‘boys club’.”

The set design is by Mark Halpin, costume design by Charis Weible and lighting design by Resident Artist John Rensel. Kay Carver is the production stage manager and Kristin A. Sutter is the stage manager.

Race runs April 4 through 21, 2013. Opening night is Friday, April 5.

The production sponsor for Race is Morris Home Furnishings, with additional support from Maryann and Jack Bernstein, and Jon and Diana Sebaly and Sebaly Shillito + Dyer.

PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION
Tickets for the preview performance of Race on April 4 are $31 for adults, $29 for seniors and $15.50 for students. For all performances April 5 – 21, single ticket prices are $36 and $40 for adults, $34 and $38 for seniors and $17.50 and $19.50 for students. Prices vary depending on the day of the week desired. Group discounts are available. The Human Race Theatre is offering a pair of discount ticket opportunities. Twenty-five special $25 tickets are available at most performances, on sale two weeks prior to that performance. The Sunday, April 7 7:00 p.m. performance is “Sawbuck Sunday”, when a limited number of available seats 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 Race are 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday evenings and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. The Pay-What-You-CAN performance is Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. The “Inside Track” pre-show discussion begins at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, prior to the 8:00 p.m. preview performance. The opening night performance is Friday, April 5 at 8:00 p.m., followed by a free party with the cast in The Loft Lobby. “Lite Fare at the Loft” with food and drink provided by Citilites begins in The Loft Theatre lobby at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9. There is no “While We’re on the Subject” post-show talkback for this production.

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

TICKET CONTEST

Contest Closed – Congratulations to our winners!

Julie Westwood

Christina Tomazinis

THE GATEKEEPERS Opens Friday + More NEON News!

March 27, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see EMPEROR or WEST OF MEMPHIS, Thursday will be your last chance to see them at THE NEON. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com.

On Friday, we will open the highly acclaimed and anticipated documentary THE GATEKEEPERS. This film was nominated for an Academy Award, and numerous critics have given it a 100% review!

Synopsis for THE GATEKEEPERS: “Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror-both Palestinian and Jewish- the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s secret service is present at the crossroad of every decision made. For the first time ever six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the sum of their success and failures. It validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution.” (taken from Sony Pictures Classics) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

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This Thursday at 7:30, “Peace on Fifth will present movie #3 for their trafficking awareness campaign – Start Freedom Dayton (Sponsored by Love146 Dayton, Stop Human Trafficking Dayton and Peace on Fifth). FLESH, a documentary about sex trafficking in the U.S., challenges our ideas of slavery, human trafficking & prostitution. The story is told by the girls who have escaped and those who are currently enslaved, former and current pimps, and modern day abolitionists. The post-screening discussion will be led by Elizabeth Ranade Janis, Ohio’s first human trafficking coordinator. Tickets: $10 day of show at THE NEON. Advance tickets: $8.50 at Peace on Fifth (508 E. 5th 937-367-7215).” (taken from press notes)

This year’s edition of LUNAFEST – a collection of 9 short films made by, for and about women – will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00. In addition to the nationally touring program (which you can read all about by clicking this LINK), this year’s local line-up will also feature a short film by WSU student Megan Hague – WOMEN WHO YELL. (I previously announced that Hague would be at the screening, but that has changed. She will not be able to attend.) Proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and Planned Parenthood – Southwest Ohio. The suggested donation for tickets is $10 each (minimum of $5 per ticket). You can purchase advanced tickets by visiting this LINK.

Downtown resident and NEON regular Hector Escobar wants us to screen the film BLESS ME, ULTIMA. In order to make the screening happen, we need to “sell” 65 tickets by the end of March. If that many tickets are reserved, the screening will take place Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30. (This is a lot like our screening of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. There’s no gamble. If 65 tickets aren’t reserved, you will not be billed…and the event will not proceed.) Check out this LINK to watch a trailer for the film and to reserve your ticket.

On Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30, Five River Metroparks will host a screening of WHERE THE YELLOWSTONE GOES. The film “follows a 30-day drift boat journey down the longest ‘undammed’ river in the lower 48. Intimate portraits of locals in both booming cities and dusty, dwindling towns along the Yellowstone River illustrate the history and controversies surrounding this enigmatic watershed leading to questions about its future. Connect with colorful characters, get lost in the hypnotic cast of a fly rod, and experience silhouetted moments of fireside stories on this heartfelt river adventure.” (taken from press notes) Tickets will be $11 in advance ($10 plus $1 service fee) or $15 the day of the screening at the door (cash only). We will not be selling advanced tickets to this screening at THE NEON. Click this LINK to purchase advanced tickets. Visit the official site to learn more about the film.

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Also on the horizon is The 13th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival. You can now visit our lobby to pick up a brochure for this year’s festival . To visit the website and purchase advanced tickets, click this LINK. 8 films from this festival will screen at THE NEON, and the line-up looks terrific! Here are the dates and times:
Thu, Apr 18 at 7:30 – THE OTHER SON (preceded by Opening Reception at 7pm)
Sun, Apr 21 at 3:00 – MY BEST ENEMY
Tue, Apr 23 at 7:15 – MELTING AWAY
Thu, Apr 25 at 7:15 – NICKY’S FAMILY
Tue, Apr 30 at 7:15 – NAOMI
Thu, May 2 at 7:15 – LEA & DARIA
Tue, May 7 at 10am – TORN
Thu, May 9 at 7:15 – A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA

Check out this trailer for the opening night film – THE OTHER SON – it’s quite powerful!:

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Over the years, we have celebrated the work of local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar. Well if you haven’t already heard, they recently unveiled a new website about Dayton, and new content (the 2nd part of a 3-part documentary found on the site) was just released last week. Click this LINK to read an article I wrote about their project.

Did you know that you can take your NEON ticket to Serendipity Bistro for a Free Dessert? Located 2 blocks away under the St. Clair Lofts, the folks at Serendipity would love for you to try out their new restaurant. Come see us for a movie, then grab a bite…and dessert is on them! Visit their facebook page HERE.

This spring looks very promising at THE NEON, and we’re currently overbooked. Check out the list below. Though dates will shift around, the list gives you a good idea of how many good films we want to bring to town in the coming weeks!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. March 29 – Thur, April 4:

STOKER (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

THE GATEKEEPERS (PG-13) 1 Hrs 41 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
April 5 – ON THE ROAD
April 12 – NO
April 12 – TRANCE
April 12 – A PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
April 19 – THE SAPPHIRES
April 26 – MUD
April 26 – THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
April 26 – STARBUCK
May ? – TO THE WONDER
May 24 – AT ANY PRICE
June 7 – LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
TBD – GINGER AND ROSA
TBD – KON TIKI
TBD – FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
TBD – FRANCES HA

The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit at Dayton History’s Carillon Park + TICKET CONTEST

March 22, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Dayton History is bringing together more flood related objects than any other exhibition has since the tragedy itself. Many of these relics will be interspersed with multi-media elements to surround our guests with sounds, original films, and firsthand accounts.

Learn about stories like Charles Adams Sr.’s desperate attempt to rescue his wife and children from the frigid waters or step into a recreated attic space and so much more only at Carillon Historical Park!

Exhibition funding provided by the Iddings Foundation, the Miami Conservancy District,
the Dayton Rotary Club Foundation, the Schiewetz Foundation,
and the Eckstein Family Fund of The Dayton Foundation.

Rain began to fall over the region on Sunday, March 23rd, and did not stop again for five days. During this period, nine to eleven inches of rain fell on saturated ground, and 90 percent of what fell became runoff, overflowing the rivers.

People had to get to the highest points in their homes to escape the rising water. This often meant camping out in the attic for days until a boat came by to rescue them. It was a cold, wet and thoroughly frightening time. Water cut off any avenue of escape; fires could be seen burning unchecked in downtown, and people could be heard crying in fear. Daytonians rose to the challenge that the flood had created. A Daytonian with a boat would often go out to rescue those stuck on rooftops. Neighbors, and frequently strangers, were invited into the upper reaches of homes to wait out the water.

Hours of Operation:
Mon – Sat, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Admission Prices:
$8 per adult (ages 18-59)
$7 per senior
$5 per child (3 -17) & students
children under 3 and
Dayton History members FREE

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: Grand Hotel: The Musical (Wright State University) – Dazzling Display

March 22, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. 1 Comment

(l to r) Justin King, Mathys Herbert, Sierra Stacy, Taryn Lemmons and Riley Able in Grand Hotel

Forget London, Paris or Rome. Berlin beckons for the remainder of March, but a passport isn’t required. Just head to Fairborn where Wright State University brilliantly showcases its musical theater department to the hilt with a chorally sublime, stunningly designed production of “Grand Hotel: The Musical,” inspired by Vicki Baum’s 1929 period novel and adapted from the 1932 Academy Award-winning Best Picture of the same name.

Garnering 12 1990 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical and winning five, “Grand Hotel,” set in 1928 and staged with elegant theatricality by Marya Spring Cordes in the Tony-winning vein of its original director/choreographer Tommy Tune, features a book by Luther Davis (“Kismet”), music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest (“Kismet”) and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (“Nine,” “Titanic”).

As a revolving door of colorful characters primarily cope with financial concerns fueling their desperation, opulent escapism unites them with results varying from euphoric to tragic. But at the glamorous Grand Hotel, where hot jazz scintillates and endless dance intoxicates, there remains the possibility of a new start, a new romance, a new hope. Even though the guests are experiencing a temporary high, it is worthwhile all the same. In fact, in the beguilingly lush tune “At the Grand Hotel,” dying Jewish bookkeeper Otto Kringelein, the only character you instantly root for marvelously embodied by Mathys Herbert in one of the best performances of the season, offers a stirring testimony to the magnetism of his retreat:

From the hospital to the town of Berlin

I have taken the train here to begin

My new life though quite soon that must end
But until that occurs I do intend to remain

I want to know that I once was here

While all my faculties still are clear

And check into my room as I planned

At the Grand Hotel

The sleek young men, the slender girls, they please my eyes

Perfumes from France and tropic plants around me rise

I listen to the swish of the silk, the tune the fiddle plays,

And I feel gay and warm and free

In this lobby past these gold-covered walls

Past the tapestries hanging I’ll walk miles of halls

I want to know that I once was here

While all my faculties still are clear

And break out of my shell, living swell,

At the Grand Hotel

The cast of Grand Hotel

The unbridled glee and resolve permeating throughout Herbert’s superb rendition of this delectable number is certainly an early hallmark of his delightfully sincere and life-affirming portrayal, culminating with a thrilling rendition of “We’ll Take a Glass Together” complete with a breathtaking transition revealing an expansive view of the hotel. Still, Herbert’s incredible appeal (so much so you’ll wonder why the curtain call doesn’t contain individual bows) doesn’t masquerade the fact that Davis’ dark, melancholy libretto is overstuffed with principal and supporting characters with differing degrees of likability and purpose, which has a tendency to keep the brisk, intermissionless action unfocused or at a chilly distance emotionally. Every subplot isn’t equally engaging or engrossing, which problematically chips away at establishing great depth or concern. Thankfully, each journey is at least interesting while adhering to the core theme of diverse souls intertwining for better or worse in extravagance.

Justin King, droll and sour, sets the proper tone as Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag, the cynical, opinionated overseer. The handsome Riley Able exudes dapper charm and frustrated anxiety as the cash-strapped, indebted Baron Felix Von Gaigern, but has difficulty with the soaring ballad “Love Can’t Happen,” one of Yeston’s most gorgeous yet demanding tunes. Taryn Lemmons, who has received expert dialect coaching from Deborah Thomas and is a bright bundle of promising bliss in “Bonjour Amour,” captivates as aging ballerina Elizaveta Grushinskaya, who visits Berlin on her eighth farewell tour alongside her devoted confidante Raffaela (an excellently understated, vocally enticing Beth Ann Wipprecht), company manager Victor Witt (Ian Benjamin) and Hungarian impresario Sandor (Casey Jordan). Andrew Quiett is fittingly imposing as ethically challenged businessman Hermann Preysing. Sierra Stacy, a fine singer, is attractively poised as Flaemmchen, the genial typist longing to trade her hard knock life for glitzy Hollywood stardom no matter the cost. Jon Hacker is very personable as Erik, the assistant concierge anticipating his son’s birth. Crisp duo Kevin Ferguson and Jordan Adams shine as two African-Americans named Jimmy tunefully considering “Maybe My Baby Loves Me.” Delee Cooper (The Countess) and Drew Bowen (The Gigolo) perform their ballroom routines with mature gusto. Kaitlyn Sage, Lizzy Miller and Amy Wheeler are perfectly perky telephone operators. Jacob Hudilston, Mark Beyer, Tyler Edwards, Cooper Taggard, Hannah Aicholtz, and Bradley Farmer are equally notable among the terrific ensemble.

Additionally, the production’s sleek ambience is cemented in Pam Knauert Lavarnway’s stylish set, D. Bartlett Blair’s lovely period costumes, Matthew Benjamin’s evocative lighting, and guest artist Suzanne Winland’s splendid choreography, particularly rising with an eerie allure during “The Grand Charleston.” James Dunlap’s first-rate sound design and musical director Scot Woolley’s outstanding onstage orchestra are also praiseworthy.

“Grand Hotel” impressively concludes Wright State’s 2012-13 season with a sophisticated finesse recalling its remarkable 2010 production of “The Light in the Piazza.” I can’t wait to book a new reservation because this dazzling display deserves to be seen more than once.

“Grand Hotel: The Musical” continues through March 31 in the Festival Playhouse of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy, Fairborn. The musical is presented in 120 minutes without intermission. Performances are March 21 and 28 at 7 p.m.; March 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m.; and March 24, 30 and 31 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, call (937) 775-2500.

Dayton Art Institute Commemorates 100 Year Anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 with Three Exhibits + TICKET CONTEST

March 20, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

April Gornik, The Horizon, 2008

Next week will be the 100 year anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood, which was not only the biggest natural disaster to happen to Dayton and other communities along the Great Miami River – it was the worst natural disaster to happen in the entire country. Local media is covering this historic event, including here on Dayton Most Metro (check out our five-page feature by Joe Aiello), and several local organizations are recognizing this anniversary this month, including Dayton History, The Miami Conservancy District and Dayton Art Institute. The latter opened up a brand new three-part exhibit almost a month ago that runs through May 5 which I had the pleasure of previewing. (See our ticket contest at the end of this article!)

The first exhibit at DAI is called “Storm: Paintings by April Gornik“, with large-scale pieces that greet you and evoke the feeling one may have had watching those storms from a hundred years ago roll in over the Miami Valley. Gornik, an internationally renowned artist and Cleveland native, uses horizons, light and clouds to create an ominous atmosphere in each of her paintings that set the tone beautifully for the rest of the exhibit. She will be at DAI on Saturday 3/23 at 3pm to discuss the genesis and development of her work in the talk Landscape and Metaphor.

After you experience the larger-than-life paintings by April Gornik, you then begin “Watershed: 100 Years of Photography along the Great Miami River” and step back in time as you first view old photographic equipment that was used a century ago, putting into perspective the amount of work it took to carry these cameras around and capture those frightening scenes from the great flood. A far cry from today’s cameras that are simply part of our everyday smartphones that we slip into our pockets! From there you experience stunning historic photographs taken at all stages of the great flood, from the beginning rising waters to the height of the flood and desperation of those trying to escape, and finally to the mind-blowing aftermath that took an unprecedented community effort to not only rebuild, but rebuild in a way that avoided such a disaster for the next century and beyond.

Looking North on St. Clair St. in Downtown Dayton (1913)

The unique thing about the photos in this exhibit is that each is paired with a modern-day photo taken at each of the same locations by Dayton photographer Andy Snow. Andy painstakingly reviewed hundreds of historic photographs from the great flood and then went out and shot on-location over the course of several months to re-capture those moments in time one hundred years later. Andy happens to be a good friend of mine (his Downtown Dayton skyline image continues to serve as our social media profile backdrop) and I had a chance to ask him recently about his experience with this project.

Dayton Most Metro: The pictures you took for the Watershed exhibit at DAI are amazing. How long did this project take you?

Andy Snow: When the exhibition closes on May 5 it will be one year since I began the project. My mission was not necessarily to precisely match the old with the new, though you will see in the exhibition and the new book some images that are quite astonishingly close. The overarching concept that we (the MCD and I) worked on was to return to the sites of selected 1913 photos and create a representation of what exists at the site today in a fashion that resonates and informs not only how the Miami Conservancy District has helped us stay safe from a repeat of the disaster, but also how communities have returned with vibrancy and development along the Miami River without worry about such devastation happening again. Identifying exact locations is more of an art than science given that our only reference is the photos themselves. No GPS tagging back then. Often all I had to work with in the field was a small thumbnail of the 1913 image on my iPhone. I approached this as a documentarian. Record what was in front of the camera. No Photoshop post processing. I often made repeat visits to specific sites to get the light and the location just right. Having so many blue-sky days last summer and fall was an incredible bonus. I had many moments of serendipitous synchronicity.

Looking North on St. Clair St. in Downtown Dayton (2012) Photo by Andy Snow

DMM: Looking at the historic photos that were part of the exhibit, it doesn’t take much to imagine the horror that people went through during those terrifying days of the flood and the weeks and months that followed. Which historic photos had the biggest effect on you personally before you started shooting?

AS: The 1913 panorama view from hill where the The Dayton Art Institute was built in the 1920s, in my mind, one of the most iconic views. The glass transparency on display of this view is a treasure that we found in the MCD archive. It’s hand-tinted from the original B/W photo. I printed most of the prints in the exhibition; not just the new pictures but also the 1913 images from scans or high res digital photos I made of the postcards that were loaned from Historical Societies and collections.

Seeing photos of people standing on the remains of bridges to rescue poor souls clinging to pieces of houses coming downstream has impacted me for life.

DMM: And as you were photographing all of those same locations and vantage points, were there any that took on a new meaning once you stood in that spot?

AS: One favorite example would be how I was able to bring up more detail from the scan of the 1913 panorama (pictured below) so you can see more detail of the City of Dayton across what I have come to call “Lake Miami” which is what the Great Miami came to look like. The part of the picture that shows just how much McPherson Town was totally underwater is astonishing. The 2012 photo is now already an historic artifact because of the new work on I-75. The view has changed! As they rework the exits to downtown Dayton, the steel girders visible in this “new” photo have been removed. Lesson: nothing is permanent.

E. Third Street at St. Clair looking west 1913 & 2012 (Andy Snow) Click to enlarge

DMM: It is one thing to read about the flood, but it must be quite another to have studied those historic photos and then shoot modern-day photos in all of those same locations. What did you take away from your experience that you didn’t know or feel before you started?

AS: The big thing was how much the entire region was affected. Many Hamilton industries, for instance, along the Miami River were lost forever. Piqua was flooded first and the water traveled for several blocks to the downtown square. We knew about the impact here in Dayton. The revelation was how much wide-spread impact there was to other communities up and down the River, from farm lands to all kinds of businesses and neighborhoods.

Another big revelation came at the end of the photography process when I learned that a cousin of mine made some of the very photos from 1913 in West Carrollton that I referenced for the new photos there. We are descendants of a common ancestor that settled near the Great Miami along Bear Creek (north of Miamisburg) in 1804. Jacob Weaver was one of the region’s pioneers. His farm was a land grant received for fighting in the Revolutionary War for the Colony of Pennsylvania. (I love to say those last 3 words.) Noah Elwood Weaver was a photographer who worked for the West Carrollton Envelope Company as well as NCR. Yeah, his name was Noah. Photographing the Great Flood.

DMM: What do you hope people will take away after seeing the Watershed exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute?

AS: The Great Flood left a stamp, a watermark if you will, of caring and giving that makes living in this exceptional community such a joy and such a motivator of humanitarian deeds and great work for the good of all.

We have become stronger by evolving into a region of people that help their neighbors make a better place, a safer place for prosperity and growth. And I’m really proud to be a part of such a community.

The level of cooperation and collaboration between the cities and communities along the Great Miami is now at an all time high thanks to the anniversary of the Great Flood. It’s an historic moment and we can all benefit from the interaction and new growth possibilities and amenities that every community is working to complete. Fear of the River has subsided immeasurably. There’s really nothing quite like this return to the River anywhere else in the country.

Andy Snow will be at DAI on Saturday 3/23 at 4pm to present the talk Sherlock Holmes Meets Ansel Adams, a discussion of how he used cues and clues from 1913 photos of the flood to create new images that inform us about life and culture in the Miami River Valley, past, present, and future.

The last part of the exhibit is titled “Riverbank: Exploring Our River-Centered Development” and consists of images and information that capture development concepts and realities along the Great Miami River. You can revisit earlier concept plans for development of the area at the foot of The DAI’s grand staircase that runs along the northwest bank of the Great Miami, and current developments on the river are shown. Historical plans generate the basis of an interactive display that captures visitors’ ideas about ways in which The Dayton Art Institute might connect with kayak/canoe runs, bike and walking paths, public transportation routes and newly opened freeway access at their front door.

The three part exhibit at Dayton Art Institute is open now through May 5th. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, students and active military, $6 for youth (7-17) and free for DAI members and children under 7.

1913 panorama view from the hill where DAI now stands

TICKET CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our ticket winners!

Rachael Sizemore

Susan Steinmetz

Bettina Back

Matt Langdon

Experience The Beatles with RAIN

March 20, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Victoria Theatre Association presents the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, EXPERIENCE THE BEATLES WITH RAIN. Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement. RAIN returns to Dayton on March 26-27 at 8 p.m. at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online athttp://www.ticketcenterstage.com.

As “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. In addition, new songs are being included with the launch of the 2012 Tour. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics (“I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “Hard Day’s Night”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Let It Be”, “Come Together”, “Hey Jude” and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right.

“Just turn off your mind, relax and float downstream for a quick fix of nostalgic cheer!”
– Entertainment Weekly

Single tickets for EXPERIENCE THE BEATLES WITH RAIN start at just $21 and are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online at http://www.ticketcenterstage.com. Ticket Center Stage Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.
http://www.raintribute.com

STOKER and WEST OF MEMPHIS Open at THE NEON!

March 19, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re moving along this weekend. If you still need to see QUARTET, you only have through Thursday to catch it at THE NEON. On Friday, we start a new, stylish thriller which clearly pays homage to Hitchcock – STOKER. We will also begin a one-week engagement of the new documentary WEST OF MEMPHIS. In addition, EMPEROR will stick around for a couple screenings per day for one more week. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for STOKER: “After India’s father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother. Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.” (taken from rottentomatoes.com) This film stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode and Jackie Weaver. Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

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Synopsis for WEST OF MEMPHIS: “From director Amy Berg, in collaboration with filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh comes WEST OF MEMPHIS, a powerful examination of a catastrophic failure of justice in Arkansas. The documentary tells the hitherto unknown story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. Told and made by those who lived it, Berg’s unprecedented access to the inner workings of the defense, allows the film to show the investigation, research and appeals process in a way that has never been seen before; revealing shocking and disturbing new information about a case that still haunts the American South.” (taken from rottentomatoes) This story was told in a film called PARADISE LOST and its subsequent follow-ups…but critics agree that this film is a masterfully crafted summation that reveals fresh insights. Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

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On Thursday, March 28 at 7:30, “Peace on Fifth will present movie #3 for their trafficking awareness campaign – Start Freedom Dayton (Sponsored by Love146 Dayton, Stop Human Trafficking Dayton and Peace on Fifth). FLESH, a documentary about sex trafficking in the U.S., challenges our ideas of slavery, human trafficking & prostitution. The story is told by the girls who have escaped and those who are currently enslaved, former and current pimps, and modern day abolitionists. The post-screening discussion will be led by Elizabeth Ranade Janis, Ohio’s first human trafficking coordinator. Tickets: $10 day of show at The Neon. Advance tickets: $8.50 at Peace on Fifth (508 E. 5th 937-367-7215).” (taken from press notes)

This year’s edition of LUNAFEST – a collection of 9 short films made by, for and about women – will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00. In addition to the nationally touring program (which you can read all about by clicking this LINK), this year’s local line-up will also feature a short film by WSU student Megan Hague – WOMEN WHO YELL. (I previously announced that Hague would be at the screening, but that has changed. She will not be able to attend.) Proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and Planned Parenthood – Southwest Ohio. The suggested donation for tickets is $10 each (minimum of $5 per ticket). More ticket information will be available soon.

Downtown resident and NEON regular Hector Escobar wants us to screen the film BLESS ME, ULTIMA. In order to make the screening happen, we need to “sell” 65 tickets by the end of March. If that many tickets are reserved, the screening will take place Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30. (This is a lot like our screening of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. There’s no gamble. If 65 tickets aren’t reserved, you will not be billed…and the event will not proceed.) Watch the trailer below and check out this LINK to reserve your ticket.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yg9kkqCul0′]

Also on the horizon is The 13th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival. I’ll go into more details in the coming weeks, or you can visit our lobby for the new brochures . To visit the website, click this LINK. 8 films from this festival will screen at THE NEON, and the line-up looks terrific!

Over the years, we have celebrated the work of local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar. Well if you haven’t already heard, they recently unveiled a new website about Dayton, and new content (the 2nd part of a documentary found on the site) was just released today. Click this LINK to read an article I wrote about their project.

The spring looks very promising at THE NEON, and we hope to see you soon.

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. March 22 – Thur, March 28:

STOKER (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:50

EMPEROR (PG-13) 1 Hrs 46 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:00, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday: 2:45, 8:00
Thursday: 2:45

WEST OF MEMPHIS (R) 2 Hrs 27 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 4:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
March 29 – THE GATEKEEPERS
April 5 – ON THE ROAD
April 12 – NO
April 12 – A PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
April 26 – MUD
April 26 – THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
April 26 – STARBUCK
Late April – THE SAPPHIRES
May ? – TO THE WONDER

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Dayton Playhouse) – Admirable Adventure

March 16, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. Leave a Comment

Cast of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Photo Credit: Art Fabian)

Millie Dillmount’s endearing quest for love and opportunity in the Big Apple during the Roaring ‘20s is well secured in the Dayton Playhouse’s admirable “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” adapted by Richard Morris, Dick Scanlan and Jeanine Tesori based on the 1967 film of the same name.

Under the direction of Gayle Smith, who replaced director/choreographer Richard Croskey prior to the show’s opening, Playhouse newcomer and pleasant vocalist Abby McLean fits comfortably into the colorful persona of the bubbly yet easily perturbed Millie, who craves a better life than her Kansas hometown can supply. Effectively conveying Millie’s fervent desire to become an assertively empowered woman, McLean is especially winning while navigating the engaging relationships key to the adventure at hand. In fact, McLean’s best scenes occur opposite the amusingly uptight and domineering Ryan Fark as Millie’s stern boss Trevor Graydon and the very appealing and confident David Thomas in one of his best performances as easygoing ne’er-do-well Jimmy Smith. In particular, Thomas and McLean’s beautifully tender rendition of “I Turned the Corner” clearly reenergizes the emotional sparks necessary between Millie and Jimmy for McLean to deliver a joyously heartfelt “Gimme Gimme,” the musical’s capstone.

Additionally, the elegant Elana D. Elmore, attractively costumed by Kathy White, nearly steals the show as sophisticated chanteuse Muzzy Van Hossmere, a role she memorably portrayed five years ago in the Muse Machine’s outstanding production. Elmore’s genuine grace and soaring vocals (she received a B.A. in music vocal performance from Hampton University) are a significant attraction. It’s safe to say no one in this town has sung “Only in New York” and “Long As I’m Here With You” better.

Cast of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Photo Credit: Art Fabian)

Elsewhere, fine soprano Annie Nereng decently embodies Miss Dorothy Brown, humorously smitten by Graydon. As the dastardly Mrs. Meers, dabbling in the white slavery trade, Cathy Long has a tendency to deliver her lines leisurely, which chips away at the strength of Meers’ magnetism, but her rendition of “They Don’t Know” hits the mark nonetheless. Malcolm Casey (Ching Ho) and Naman Clark (Bun Foo) are obviously miscast as Asian brothers but are commendably focused. Marabeth Klejna adds flavor to the committed ensemble as Miss Flannery, Graydon’s dutiful secretary. Ever-reliable musical director Ron Kindell leads another solid orchestra.

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” continues through March 17 at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 75 minutes; Act Two: 50 minutes. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. For tickets or more information, call (937) 424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.org.

In related news, the Playhouse’s 2013-14 season will consist of “Hairspray” (Sept. 6-22, 2013, co-directed by Tina McPhearson and Fran Pesch), “Deathtrap” (Oct. 18-27, 2013, directed by Jennifer Lockwood), “Fellow Passengers” (Dec. 6-15, 2013, directed by Dodie Lockwood), “Working” (Jan. 31-Feb. 16, 2014, directed by Jim Lockwood), “Whales of August” (March 14-23, 2014, directed by John Riley), and “Oklahoma!” (May 1-18, 2014, directed by Brian Sharp). Season tickets are available for a six-show option of $85 for adults and $75 for students/seniors) or a four-show option of $60 for adults and $55 for students/seniors). For more information, call call (937) 424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.org.

Coming up in Dayton Theatre 3/15 – 3/24

March 15, 2013 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

In Julius Caesar, the Shakespeare classic, a soothesayer memorably tells the eponymous ruler to “Beware the Ides of March.” Luckily for you and I and everyone else, this Ides brings nothing about which to be wary, but plenty about which you should be aware! For instance:

Opening This Weekend!

Grand Hotel

Wright State University Theatre

The Skinny: Based on the 1929 Vicki Baum novel and play, Menschen im Hotel (People in a Hotel), and the subsequent 1932 MGM feature film, the musical focuses on events taking place over the course of a weekend in an elegant hotel in 1928 Berlin and the intersecting stories of the eccentric guests of the hotel, including a fading prima ballerina; a fatally ill Jewish bookkeeper, who wants to spend his final days living in luxury; a young, handsome, but destitute Baron; a cynical doctor; and a typist dreaming of Hollywood success.

Dates: Opening this weekend and running through March 31st.

Tickets: Please visit the Wright State Theatre Department website for all ticketing details.

Alice In Wonderland

Kettering Children’s Theatre

The Skinny: Alice In Wonderland is a retelling of the classic tale of…Alice In Wonderland! The girl, the rabbit hole, the queen, the (Cheshire) cat and all the other delightfully daffy classic characters are present in this production, which features original sets inspired by a local artist! This is a great event for families with young ones, who will enjoy that KCT is theatre for children and by children, with its cast comprised of students grades 5-9.

Dates: Alice opens 3/15 and runs two weekends, closing on 3/24.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the door, by purchase with cash or a check, and are able to be reserved by calling the Rosewood Arts Center office at (937) 296-0294.

Currently In Production!

9 to 5 – The Musical

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: The classic 1980 black comedy about 3 working women who are just a step on their boss’s ladder was transformed in 2009 into a hit Broadway musical. Dolly Parton, who starred in the original movie alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, wrote new original music to compliment her smash hit title single. After the ladies plan for revenge goes wildly awry, hijiks, as they so often due in musical theatre, ensue!

Dates: Running through April 14th!

Tickets: Tickets and reservations are available at the La Comedia website, www.lacomedia.com.

Closing This Weekend!

Thoroughly Modern Millie

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Taking us back to 1922 with the sensation of flappers, the thrill of a budding mystery and the bliss of falling in love, this musical will get your toes tapping as spring peeks ’round the corner. Based on the on 1967 film musical of the same name starring Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore, this one will have you humming as you leave the theatre.

Dates: Millie takes her final bow this weekend, closing on 3/17

Tickets: Please visit the Dayton Playhouse website at www.daytonplayhouse.com

Broadway in the ‘Burg

Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg

The Skinny: The talented cast will be telling you to Consider Yourself at Home from Oliver, be transported back in time to magical Camelot and ride a train in Iowa to Rock Island from Music Man. Cinderella dances with the Prince in the romantic Ten Minutes Ago and the whole cast will bring you to your feet with the blockbuster title number from Oklahoma!

Dates: March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Show times are Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: Tickets are on sale now at http://www.cpamburg.com

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: American Idiot (Victoria Theatre Association) – Ode to Billie Joe

March 13, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. Leave a Comment

Alyssa DiPalma (Whatsername) and Alex Nee (Johnny) in AMERICAN IDIOT

Much has been said about Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s shocking meltdown at the I Heart Radio Musical Festival last fall in addition to his rehab stint for alcoholism and addiction, but his raw musical genius is of utmost importance in this context. After all, Green Day’s bold, provocative “American Idiot,” a 2010 Tony Award nominee for Best Musical expertly derived from the band’s profound 2004 Grammy-winning album of the same name, has arrived at the Victoria Theatre with astounding electricity rivaling the Broadway production.

Helmed and co-adapted by Michael Mayer – who astonishingly did not receive a Tony nomination for his brilliant stagecraft fluidly accented by Steven Hoggett’s vigorous choreography – “American Idiot” is a non-stop, 90-minute kick in the gut depicting post-911 America, particularly the George W. Bush administration, as a well of political lies within a sea of media overkill, an image superbly presented as the curtain slowly rises on an eye-catching multitude of television sets before the pulsating title number fittingly sets the rock concert tone of the evening. Armstrong’s terrifically blunt and poignant songs, co-written with band mates Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool and including tunes from the band’s 2009 Grammy-winning “21st Century Breakdown,” exhilarates and educates with overwhelming energy and attitude as “the land of make believe who don’t believe in me” takes its toll on the youth of Jingletown U.S.A., particularly three close-knit friends longing for purpose despite deep disillusionment stirring within their suburban hell consumed by “signs leading to nowhere.” The angst-filled, in-your-face numbers, presented with impeccably smooth transitions, are distinctively Green Day, especially lively anthems such as “Holiday” and “Know Your Enemy,” but certain passages delightfully recall Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” (“I Don’t Care”), Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” (“Before the Lobotomy”) and the Beatles (“Last Night on Earth”).

Alex Nee, charming, funny and touching, excellently leads the uniformly outstanding cast as Johnny (a.k.a. Jesus of Suburbia), the product of a broken home scarred by the memories of a parent who constantly killed his self-worth. Nee typifies the desperation of a suffocated suburban kid hoping for something better on the outside. The endearing Thomas Hettrick is a fine Tunny, who joins Johnny on a spirited adventure only to become fixated on a handsome celebrity figure (“Favorite Son”) that encourages him to join the military with heartbreaking results. Casey O’Farrell wonderfully completes the trio as the homebound Will, who suffers “Too Much Too Soon” with his pregnant girlfriend Heather (the humorous Kennedy Caughell).

Elsewhere, Trent Saunders thrills as the scarily intense St. Jimmy, Johnny’s drug dealer. Alyssa DiPalma properly supplies sass and tenderness as Whastername, Johnny’s love interest. As the Extraordinary Girl, the lovely Jenna Rubaii joins Hettrick for a beautifully exquisite aerial ballet during the evocative “Extraordinary Girl.” Jared Young, Carson Higgins, Aurie Ceylon, and Daniel C. Jackson are very effective in featured roles.

Unfortunately, the only drawback to this splendid showcase, which includes Christine Jones’ Tony-winning set design and Kevin Adams’ Tony-winning lighting design, is the Victoria itself. The show, specifically its towering sound equipment, is simply too large for the stage, leaving poor sightlines for practically anyone sitting in the right orchestra.

Nonetheless, like “Hair,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Who’s Tommy,” Green Day’s “American Idiot” firmly stands as another mesmerizing, thought-provoking testament to the powerful influence of rock music in the musical theater universe.

Green Day’s “American Idiot,” presented in 90 minutes without intermission, continues Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14 at 8 p.m. at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton. Tickets are $46-$67. Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com. Patrons are advised the show is recommended for ages 17 and up and includes strong language and adult themes.

Here is an audience reaction, courtesy of Victoria Theatre Association

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EMPEROR and QUARTET Continue Successful Runs at THE NEON!

March 12, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

The first quarter for 2013 has been very good for us at THE NEON. Thanks to all of you who continue to support our films! QUARTET has been huge, HYDE PARK ON HUDSON and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK were big hits, and EMPEROR is off to a very good start. We appreciate your patronage and your great word-of-mouth marketing that you do for us. Thank you!

We will hold both of our current titles for another week – QUARTET and EMPEROR. It’s almost certain that this will be the final week for QUARTET…so if you need to see it (or see it again), hurry down. Remaining showtimes for this week are at: www.neonmovies.com.

Check out this little discussion about QUARTET with Dustin Hoffman:

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We’ve got several special events on the horizon.

This year’s edition of LUNAFEST – a collection of 9 short films made by, for and about women – will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00. In addition to the nationally touring program (which you can read all about by clicking this LINK), this year’s local line-up will also feature a short film by WSU student Megan Hague – WOMEN WHO YELL. Hague will be available for a Q&A following the screening. Proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and Planned Parenthood – Southwest Ohio. The suggested donation for tickets is $10 each (minimum of $5 per ticket). More ticket information will be available soon.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAa_mvSViP0′]

Also on the horizon is The 13th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival. I’ll go into more details in the coming weeks, but you can download a brochure for the festival by clicking this pdf LINK. To visit the website, click this LINK. 8 films from this festival will screen at THE NEON, and the line-up looks terrific!

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. March 15 – Thur, March 21:

QUARTET (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:00, 7:15

EMPEROR (PG-13) 1 Hrs 46 Min.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.

March 22 – WEST OF MEMPHIS
March 22 – STOKER
March 29 – THE GATEKEEPERS
April 5 – ON THE ROAD
April 12 – NO
April 12 – A PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
April 26 – MUD
April 26 – THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
April 26 – STARBUCK

Late April/Early May – THE SAPPHIRES
May ? – TO THE WONDER

The Call + Wonderstone + MET Opera + Big Bang Theory

March 12, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Hello Dayton! You came out in droves to see “Oz” – THANK YOU! There are plenty of options for everyone to have the perfect movie weekend this week. Lots of things happening at your local Rave Cinemas!

Opening This Week

PALEYFEST: THE BIG BANG THEORY – 03/13/13 @ 10pm!

Bazinga! On March 13th, the stars of TV’s hit comedy series “The Big Bang Theory” are coming to select movie theaters nationwide for a LIVE interactive experience as part of the ultimate ♥TV fan festival – PaleyFest. In addition to experiencing exclusive never-before-seen footage, this one-night event will also provide the unique ability to interact with the star-studded cast, who will be taking questions LIVE from the studio audience in Los Angeles as well as movie theatre audiences across the country.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SwYOC3Myl4′]

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE – OPENS 03/14/13 @ 10pm!

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act both onstage and off if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

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

THE CALL – OPENS 03/14/13 @ 10pm!

When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl’s life.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzesOOwEl14′]

THE POWER OF FEW – OPENS 03/15/13!

Spies, cops, holy fools and well-armed children cross paths on a day of danger, mystery and possible transformation. “The Power of Few” unfolds through the lives of five unusual characters who unknowingly are connected to an extraordinary smuggling operation on a day when religious conspiracy and urban crime collide. Starring; Christopher Walken, Christian Slater and Moon Bloodgood.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJuovcCmL9k’]

METROPOLITAN OPERA: FRANCESCA da RIMINI – 03/16/13 @ Noon

Experience the seventh season of the Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series The Met: Live in HD in movie theaters nationwide. The broadcast of Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini will be presented live for only one day on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 12:00 PM ET in select movie theaters.

Zandonai’s compelling opera, inspired by an episode from Dante’s Inferno, returns in the Met’s ravishingly beautiful production, last seen in 1986. Dramatic soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and tenor Marcello Giordani are the doomed lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pdjza56pdM’]

RAVE CINEMA CLASSICS – $3 + FREE popcorn & drink! @ Dayton South

03/18/13 @ 1pm brings us…

CHARLEY’S AUNT, 1941, 80min

In 1890, two students at Oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from Brazil–where the nuts come from. Jack Benny, Kay Francis

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJX3Q-Jka78]

For showtimes…CLICK HERE!

Annie Griffiths: A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel + TICKET CONTEST

March 8, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Photographer ANNIE GRIFFITHS kicks off the second event of the 2012-2013 FIFTH THIRD BANK NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE SERIES on March 11 at 7p.m. in the historic Victoria Theatre. This thrilling event is presented by Victoria Theatre Association and Five Rivers MetroParks. Tickets are available at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, (888) 228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

In this presentation, audiences get an inside look into the life of ANNIE GRIFFITHS and how she maintains balance and joy of creating a meaningful life. Griffiths will share stories about her international travel, the people she met, as well as show photographs that documented her experience. Her presentation of A CAMERA, TWO KIDS, AND A CAMEL along with her sense of humor and touching stories will excite the audience and give them an insider’s look into her life and world.

Along with her magazine work, ANNIE GRIFFITHS has a passion for photographing people and places in need around the world. She is founder and executive director of Ripple Effect Images, a team of journalists who document the climate change and its effects on people in need, especially women, and the programs that empower these women through the developing world. One of the first women photographers hired to work for National Geographic, ANNIE GRIFFITHS ‘ photographs have appeared in LIFE, Geo, Smithsonian, Stern, and Time, as well as her own two books, “ A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel” and “Simply Beautiful Photographs.”

Single tickets for the ANNIE GRIFFITHS lecture start at just $20 and are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com. Ticket Center Stage Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Green Day’s American Idiot comes to Dayton + TICKET CONTEST

March 8, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 25 Comments

Alex Nee (Johnny) and company in AMERICAN IDIOT

The Victoria Theatre Association continues to expand its boundaries in bringing the best of Broadway to Dayton, and will provide a musical theatre experience of a different kind with Green Day’s rock opera American Idiot, playing at the Victoria Theatre March 12 – 14.

A story very much of this era, American Idiot is the tale of three young men who’ve been friends all their lives. The story finds them on the brink of adulthood, and soon they’ll have to decide whether they’ll strike out into the world to follow their hearts or take an easier path and remain in the comfort of the suburbs. The cynicism, ennui, black humor, and paranoia of youth in post-9/11 America is front and center in this Tony- and Grammy-winning show.

The musical is based on punk band Green Day’s multi-platinum 2004 album by the same name. Director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) approached the band with the idea of translating it to the stage, and in April 2010, it opened on Broadway with music by Green Day, lyrics by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, and a book by Armstrong and Mayer. The production ran for one year, with 421 performances logged by the final curtain.

Ensemble cast member Dustin Harris Smith said, “Someone who doesn’t know Green Day will still have a good experience with this show. Right from the start, it’s an explosion, and as long as you — or your parents — don’t mind the F word, then it’s perfectly accessible. It’s definitely not for everybody, but we see people of all ages in the audience and they really enjoy it. The other day, we had a seven-year-old girl in the front row, and we were very happy to have her. As long as the parents are there to accept it, we’ll be happy to yell at your child. Or,” he added, “your grandmother!”

The New York-based actor also occasionally takes on the role of Tunny, one of the lead trio who joins the military and goes off to war. Musical theatre has already taken him abroad as Bobby in an Edinburgh production of Urinetown, and he performed in The Who’s Tommy and other shows during his educaton at NYU and was paid a visit by a casting director while he was still in school. Several callbacks later, he was cast, and workshops of the touring version began in May 2012 as Smith prepared to graduate.

Alyssa DiPalma (Whatsername) and Alex Nee (Johnny) in AMERICAN IDIOT

“I call myself The Thrasher,” Smith said, “because I do a lot of the high-octane support in the show. I’m in almost every number backing the three leads and thrashing around. I give all my energy for every performance, which is weird on two-show days, when I have to give 200% of myself. We call them ‘two dow shays,’ because at the end of the day, you’re so exhausted nothing works right or makes sense anymore. When we leave the theater around 11 p.m., most people are going out partying. My party is with my pillow!”

“We just finished our 117th performance,” he said by phone from Hartford, Connecticut. “There’s a lot of belting and screaming, and we do it healthily and have to take care of our voices, but every now and then someone has to take a performance off just based on the wear and tear of the show. There are a few people in the company who have never called out, and,” he added with a laugh, “there is something very wrong with them, and they are freaks.”

When not involved with theatre, Smith has a very unique pursuit as a passionate board game enthusiast with a dream of owning his own game company.

“I’ve produced five or six board games that I’m trying to get play-tested to maybe start a company,” he said. “It’s a small passion I don’t usually tell people about, but it’s very fun for me. Board games are a great way to be face to face with people you know, or don’t know, and get to know how they think.

As his own personal favorite game, Smith is particularly fond of the classic Stratego.

“I’m a big strategy guy,” said Smith, “and if I can get in the head of the person I’m playing, it’s a small victory. The deception and randomness is something I love, that anyone can lay their pieces down in any order, and it becomes kind of a logical guessing game, like chess.”

Smith’s tour with American Idiot will take him all over the United States before wrapping in September after lengthy stints in Tokyo and Seoul.

“We’ve had our share of season ticket holders,” he said, “who are just there to experience something they’ve never experienced, and boy, this is it. The show is filled with spectacle, and there’s a bit of acrobatics… It’s almost like reliving the ’70s era of rock concerts, in a way, but it’s also a very moving piece. I’ve gotten to watch it twice myself, and I laughed and cried both times.”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_vshHwxK0A’]

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our ticket winner: Mikee Huber

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: The Addams Family (Victoria Theatre Association) – Ghoulishly Good

March 8, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. Leave a Comment

It’s wonderful to know top-drawer musical comedy is alive and well at the Schuster Center thanks to the outstanding local premiere of “The Addams Family,” the absolutely hilarious 2010 musical inspired by the legendary creations of cartoonist Charles Addams in “The New Yorker” and presented on the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series.

Completely retooled with new songs and tighter character development since its messy 2009 pre-Broadway Chicago tryout (which I loathed) and subsequently shaky Broadway mounting, “The Addams Family” finally gels as its wonderfully witty absurdity, surprisingly touching tenderness and enchanting whimsy clearly, cleanly coalesces. Walking the fine line of glorifying and poking fun at death without being in poor taste, librettists Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (“Jersey Boys”) have streamlined the material to focus on the coming-of-age subtext stemming from the quickie engagement between morbid Wednesday Addams (a marvelously intense Jennifer Fogarty) and her new boyfriend Lucas Beineke (an appealing Bryan Welnicki). Brickman and Elice oddly glosses over the fact that Wednesday and Lucas seem too young for marriage, but the utter shock of the engagement serves its pivotal purpose nonetheless, especially when Wednesday begs her easygoing dad Gomez (terrific comedian Jesse Sharp) not to tell her assertive, perceptive mom Morticia (the cool, statuesque KeLeen Snowgren) about her big news. As Gomez and Morticia cope with Wednesday’s budding relationship and the arrival of Lucas’ straight-laced parents from Ohio, the notion of what one considers “normal” takes on deep, relatable significance. After all, despite serious eccentricities or overt dysfunction in any family, love can prevail if accepting and appreciating someone’s differences is a priority. And in this breezy tale, tunefully broadened by composer Andrew Lippa’s nifty Tony-nominated score recalling Mel Brooks’ clever ditties for “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein,” the transformative power of acceptance proves monumental.

Wright State University alum E. Cameron Holsinger skillfully recreates Jerry Zaks’ sharp, fast-moving direction, coaxing excellent portrayals across the board. Sharp, who deserves his own sitcom, maintains a very charming, eager-to-please disposition throughout while believably conflicted and moved as Wednesday’s engagement consumes Gomez’s thoughts. He also has a delightful chemistry with Snowgren, who never allows Morticia’s iciness to supersede her underlying warmth. Fogarty, an impressive vocal knockout who nearly stops the show with a dynamic rendition of “Pulled,” is equally well suited with Welnicki, who particularly joins her for the catchy “Crazier Than You,” a strong pop number that humorously raises the stakes of Wednesday and Lucas’ affection even though their dating history could certainly benefit from more backstory. Shaun Rice endearingly guides the proceedings as the peculiarly moon-adoring Uncle Fester. Jeremy Todd Shinder’s portrayal of devious Pugsley Addams strikes a chord during “What If,” a cute song about Pugsley and Wednesday’s unique bond. Scene-stealer Amanda Bruton is a downright hoot as the daffy, vulgar Grandma. Dan Olson, who is given a prime moment to shine during the finale, scores many laughs as imposing butler Lurch. The appropriately uptight Mark Poppleton and genially offbeat Blair Anderson are great as Mal and Alice Beineke. Ensemble members James Michael Avance, Chloe O. Davis, Jake Delaney, Lexie Dorsett, Aaron Fried, Elizabeth Hake, Katie Mebane, Julia Lancione, Galloway Stevens, and Julio Cataono Yee unobtrusively weave in and out of the action as the Addams ancestors.

Additionally, Jonathan Ritter recreates Sergio Trujillo’s original choreography with finesse, specifically the amusingly energetic opening number “When You’re an Addams” and Sharp and Snowgren’s sultry “Tango de Amor.” James Kronzer’s set design modifications of Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott’s original creations retain a stately allure. Crouch and McDermott’s costumes are also attractive. Natasha Katz’s lighting design is strikingly moody. Basil Twist and Gregory Meeh respectively supply eye-catching puppetry and special effects.

Trust me when I say “The Addams Family” would still be playing on Broadway if this splendid cast and revised script were involved. Peering into the dark side has never been more delectably entertaining.

“The Addams Family” continues through March 10 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are 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: 50 minutes. Tickets are $15-$96. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: A Chorus Line (Beavercreek Community Theatre) – What They Did For Fun

March 8, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. 6 Comments

Overreaching can be precarious in the topsy-turvy world of community theater, especially when an organization has to live up to iconic material. A recent case can be found at Beavercreek Community Theatre where James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante, Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban’s 1975 Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Chorus Line” receives a bizarre treatment.

Director Doug Lloyd, who rarely missteps when staging musical theater, startlingly assembles a jarring hodgepodge of clashing ages, skills and sizes for this classic look at aspiring hopefuls longing to join an upcoming Broadway musical. Each dancer’s wonderfully insightful background remains attractive as always, but the sheer legitimacy of their world, including the critical proficiency to appear as viable Broadway-caliber dancers, is totally amiss here, cheapening the show’s legacy and intent. In fact, the awkward costuming appallingly suggests the show takes place at some point between 1975 and 2013. It also doesn’t help matters that the pre-recorded use of Hamlisch and Kleban’s dandy score, including such gems as “At the Ballet,” “Nothing,” “What I Did for Love” and “One,” sounds so thin and distant you’d think it was playing in a car stereo in the parking lot.

As for the cast, only Mick Merkle (Larry), Tina de Alderete (Diana), Joshua Hughes (Mark), Sandra Hyde (Sheila), Matt Curry (Richie), Lisa Glover (Connie) and Akayla Crawford (Maggie) walk away marginally unscathed. Matt Owens, who hardly dances even in the crucial opening number, particularly barks and bellows his way through his one-dimensional portrayal of director/choreographer Zach, who has difficulty grasping the job-hungry desperation of his former flame Cassie (an uncomfortable, reserved Kristan Stanforth who truly struggles in “The Music and the Mirror”). Lloyd’s ensemble, attempting Stacy Gear’s Michael Bennett-inspired choreography to the best of their abilities, also includes Lindsay Sherman, Maggie Carroll, Danielle Kubasky, Meagan Kuchan, Brian Kester, Ben Douglas, Nicholas Sutton Brown, Mike Stockstill, Anthony Fende, Gary Watts, Jordan DuVall, Ryan Garner, and Allison Willardson.

I’ve no doubt Beavercreek Community Theatre greatly admires “A Chorus Line.” However, the troupe fails to present it realistically. They haven’t gone as far as to stage an all-black version of “1776” but authenticity matters.

“A Chorus Line” continues through March 10 at the Lofino Center, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. The production is performed in 120 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, call (937) 429-4737 or visit online at http://bctheatre.org