• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • About Us
    • Our Contributors
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Where to Pick up Dayton937
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Art Exhibits
    • Comedy
    • On Screen Dayton
    • On Screen Dayton Reviews
    • Road Trippin’
      • Cincinnati
      • Columbus
      • Indianapolis
    • Spectator Sports
    • Street-Level Art
    • Visual Arts
  • Dayton Dining
    • Happy Hours Around Town
    • Local Restaurants Open On Monday
    • Patio Dining in the Miami Valley
    • 937’s Boozy Brunch Guide
    • Dog Friendly Patio’s in the Miami Valley
    • Restaurants with Private Dining Rooms
    • Dayton Food Trucks
    • Quest
    • Ten Questions
  • Dayton Music
    • Music Calendar
  • Active Living
    • Canoeing/Kayaking
    • Cycling
    • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Runners

Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Arts & Entertainment

Dayton Theatre Guild Auditions for “Going to St. Ive’s”

February 1, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Dayton Theatre GuildThe Dayton Theatre Guild will hold open auditions for Going to St. Ives by Lee Blessing (A Walk in the Woods, Independence) on Monday and Tuesday, February 13 and 14, at 7:00 p.m.  It is directed by Greg Smith and produced by Barbara Jorgensen.  Production dates for Going to St. Ives are March 16 – April 1, 2012.

A renowned English ophthalmologist is visited by the mother of a tyrannical, murderous dictator because she desperately needs surgery on her eyes.  The doctor requests a favor.  The mother has a request of her own that, if granted, will have devastating effects for both women.

Roles are available for two female actors – one white with an English Accent and one African-American with a lilting African accent.  Actors will be asked to read from the script.  Head shots & résumés are not required but are encouraged.

Actors who audition should be comfortable playing anywhere from 32-50 years of age.

The roles:

Cora – white, English, a renowned eye surgeon who currently resides in St. Ives.

Mae – black, the mother of an African dictator, who goes to England for eye surgery.

For more information, you may contact the director at 937.416.9685 or by email at greg@daytontheatreguild.org.  You may also check the Guild website at www.daytontheatreguild.org.

(press release from the Dayton Theatre Guild)

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Auditions

Dayton Playhouse Offers Children and Teen Audition Workshops

February 1, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Dayton Playhouse YouTheatre is offering audition workshops for children and teens on Saturday, February 18.  The workshops are aimed at helping children and teens prepare for theatre auditions, including auditions for The Sound of Music, which will open at the Playhouse in May.

Jennifer Lockwood, director of the recent Dayton Playhouse production of Scrooge, will be leading the workshops.   According to Lockwood, “This is a great opportunity for children of all ages to find out what to expect at an audition and to be prepared to ward off the nervousness and do their best.”

Participants in both workshops will have the chance to learn and perform simple dance movements, be coached through cold-readings from a script, and choose an audition song that is both age and voice appropriate. Teens will also get suggestions for finding monologues for school drama productions and future auditions.

The workshops will be divided by age groups and will each last approximately 90 minutes.  They will both take place on Saturday, February 18, at the Dayton Playhouse,1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave,Dayton,Ohio45414.

Children’s Audition Workshop: Ages 5-12 at 10:00 AM

Teen Audition Workshop: Ages 13-19 at 1:00 PM

Parents are welcome to stay and will receive an orientation package concerning The Sound of Music including rehearsal information, volunteer opportunities, etc.  Members of the Dayton Playhouse board will also be available to answer parent questions and offer tours of the facility.

Registration fee is $10 per participant.  Reservations can be made at www.daytonplayhouse.org, or 937.424.8477.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Auditions

Dayton Ballet Brings Romance, Passion and Tragic Love to the Victoria Theatre

January 31, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro 4 Comments

The Romance Series, at Victoria Theatre from February 9 – 12, 2012, will feature three ballets in one amazing night. Red Roses, Between Heaven and Earth and The Butterfly Suite.

The first ballet on the evening’s program is the revival of Ballet Austin Artistic Director, Stephen Mills’ Red Roses; a neo-classical ballet, which explores the ecstasy and anger of love through the melodic songs of Edith Piaf.

The second piece is choreographed by Dayton native, Gina Gardner-Walther. Gina makes her Dayton Ballet debut with the world premiere, Between Heaven and Earth. This contemporary ballet explores the feelings of romance that go beyond attraction.

Dayton Ballet’s Artistic Director, Karen Russo Burke, completes the evening with a new world premiere, The Butterfly Suite. This one-act story ballet is loosely based on Puccini’s famous opera, Madame Butterfly. This beautifully choreographed ballet tells a heart wrenching story about clashing cultures, naivety, love, lust and sorrow.

Performances of The Romance Series are at the Victoria Theatre February 9, 10, & 11 at 8:00 pm, and February 11 & 12 at 3:00 pm.  Tickets are on sale now! Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Noon-4 p.m. and two hours prior to each performance.

WIN FREE TICKETS

We have a pair of tickets for each of the five shows, courtesy of the Dayton Ballet!  Just fill out the form below and we’ll draw five winners on Monday Feb. 6 at noon.  Good luck!

(Contest Closed)

Congratulations to: Mike Reitz, Holly Joachimi, Jennifer Dean, Patrick Martin and Linda Horenstein! They’ll be seeing Dayton Ballet’s Romance Series, courtesy of Dayton Most Metro and Dayton Ballet!

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews

Habit-Forming “Nunsense” at The Dayton Playhouse

January 31, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

The hilarious musical comedy, “Nunsense” will open Friday, February 3, at the Dayton Playhouse and will run through February 19. The play is published by Samuel French, with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin.

“Nunsense” will be directed by well-known, local director, Greg Smith. Nancy Perrin is musical director for the production with Kristin Sutter serving as choreographer.

“Nunsense” is a hilarious talent show staged by five survivors of the Little Sisters of Hoboken nunnery, the rest of the sisterhood having succumbed to botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia, Child of God. The remaining sisters parade their talents at a variety show staged to raise funds so that the last four of the dearly departed can be buried. “Nunsense” offers a cornucopia of hilarity for the whole family, proving conclusively that nun rhymes with fun! This warm and funny musical is a great way to take your mind off of the cold winter weather.

The cast is made up of Tina McPhearson, as Mother Superior; Ellen Finch as Sister Mary Hubert; Sherri Sutter, as Sister Mary Amnesia; Amy Askins, as Sister Robert Ann; and Kelli Locker as, Sister Mary Leo.

Performances will be Friday through Sunday, February 3-19. All performances are at 8:00 p.m. except Sundays, which are at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $10 for students.

(left to right) Sherri Sutter, Kelli Locker and Amy Askins

Tickets can be purchased online at www.daytonplayhouse.com, or through the box office, 937-424-8477, which is staffed Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2:00 -5:00 p.m.. Messages may be left for the box office at any time. The Dayton Playhouse is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414.

A special Dayton Playhouse Benefit Night will take place from 5:00–9:00 p.m., on Sunday, February 19, at bd’s Mongolian Grill, 4488 Glengarry Dr., Beavercreek (directly across from the movie theatre at The Greene). A percentage of all checks, accompanied by a Dayton Playhouse flyer, will go to the theatre’s fundraising efforts. Flyers will be distributed at “Nunsense” performances, on Facebook and at the threatre. Call 937-424-8477 for more information.

The Dayton Playhouse is a community theatre providing outstanding theatrical productions to Miami Valley audiences of all ages for more than fifty years. The Playhouse is nationally recognized for “FutureFest,” a festival of new plays.

 

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews

The Stinky Cheese Man And Other Fairly Stupid Tales

January 30, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

Based on the award-winning book by author Jon Scieszka, THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES comes to life on the Victoria Theatre stage and features hilarious adventures of well-known characters from tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Chicken Little, Princess and the Pea, Little Red Riding Hood and many more. Scieszka’s humorous fairytale parodies create a fun and educational afternoon for children and adults of all ages, and introduce the twists and turns in the lives of character counterparts such as The Stinky Cheese Man (The Gingerbread Man), Chicken Licken (Chicken Little) and The Really Ugly Duckling (The Ugly Duckling).

With the honor of receiving the Caldecott Award from the American Library Association and Best Illustrated Book (illustrator, Lane Smith) from the New York Times, THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES celebrates the book’s 20th anniversary of publication in 2012 by coming to life on stage and captivating audiences through humor and enjoyment.

Tickets for The Stinky Cheese Man are priced at a family-friendly $18 for adults and $16 for children (ages 12 and under).  Tickets are on sale now through Ticket Center Stage, and may be purchased at the Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or by phone, at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Support for Victoria Theatre Association’s Family Advocacy Program through the PNC Family Series is provided by SoBran, Inc. The official candy of Victoria Theatre Association’s PNC Family Series is Esther Price Candies Corporation. Think TV is the official Media Partner for the PNC Family Series.

For more information about the 2011-2012 PNC Family Series, visit: http://www.victoriatheatre.com/series/2011-2012-family/.

Ticket Contest

We have a family ticket four-pack to give away for this show on Saturday Feb. 4 at 1pm, courtesy of Victoria Theatre Association!  Just fill out the form below and we’ll pick a random winner on Thursday Feb. 2 at noon… Good Luck!

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to Rebecca Monce – her name was randomly drawn… enjoy the show!

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews

Dayton Circus Seeks Artists and Musicians for Side Show 7

January 29, 2012 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

The crowd at Side Show 5

Urban Nights seems like a long way off, but it’s not too early to get involved with one of the many events that kick off May 11th.  The Dayton Circus has begun preparations for Side Show 7, which will take place May 11th and 12th at the Circus’ space, the Yellow Cab Building on 4th Street.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Side Show, it’s more than an art show.  Each year the Circus celebrates creativity in our community by encouraging participating artists and musicians to think outside the box, take risks and try something new.  So, you ask, how do I get involved?  Interested artists and musicians can download information, sign up for email updates and learn how to submit their work here.   The call for entries is open until March 23rd.

If you want to get involved in other ways, the Circus has also begun organizing several fundraisers to help cover the cost of Side Show 7.  The first one is Dayton Crafty-Con on March 10th.

Check back to Dayton Most Metro in the coming months.  We’ll have more updates on Side Show 7 as the event develops. 

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Dayton Music, Street-Level Art, Visual Arts Tagged With: Dayton Circus, Dayton Music, Getting Involved, Side Show, Visual Arts

Measuring Life in Love

January 28, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. 2 Comments

Cast of "Rent"

Wright State University impressively embraces the visceral power of Jonathan Larson’s 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical “Rent.”

Director and Dayton native Scott Hunt, a member of the Broadway and national touring company of “Rent,” primarily gives this sung-through, AIDS-era retelling of Puccini’s “La Boheme”  a gritty aggression absent in recent local productions. In fact, during the ensemble’s fantastic rendition of the title song, vigorously choreographed by Brandon Kelly and swelling to the hilt as if threatening to tear the roof off the Festival Playhouse, you can definitely feel the desperation, frustration and urgency dwelling within the residents of New York City’s East Village. Thankfully, Hunt’s penchant for atmosphere is evident throughout such as the flurry of activity that heightens “On The Street” and the exuberantly in-your-face “La Vie Boheme.” He also establishes an appealing sense of community among the colorful, uniquely engrossing characters, which allows the musical’s central themes of friendship and love to permeate at a deeper level.

As the emotionally tortured Roger Davis and uninhibited drug addict Mimi Marquez, Ben Street and Allison Kelly wonderfully navigate Larson’s invigorating sea of sentiments. Whether flirtatious (“Light My Candle”), at odds (“Another Day”), romantic (“I Should Tell You”) or disheartened (“Goodbye Love”), this compatible duo remains purposefully bonded. Individually, Street particularly infuses “Your Eyes” with gentle sensitivity while Kelly brings beautiful poignancy to “Without You.” There is also substantive work from the charming James Oblak as aspiring filmmaker Mark Cohen, Derrick Jordan (supplying a knockout reprise of “I’ll Cover You”) as the easygoing Tom Collins, terrific understudy Ian DeVine as the flamboyant, cross-dressing Angel Schunard, and the entertaining Lauren Bernstein (Maureen Johnson) who finds fresh humor within “Over the Moon.” However, Beth Ann Wipprecht (Joanne Jefferson) and Law Terrell Dunford (Benjamin Coffin III) fail to consistently ignite. Wipprecht’s priorities seem entirely grounded in the score instead of solidifying Joanne’s motivations. Dunford, a credible bully, is simply overshadowed by stronger voices and personalities.

Mark Beyer, Jason David Collins, Zach Cossman, Kenneth Foster, Melissa Hall, Tommi Harsch, Taryn Lemmons, Taylor Montgomery, Zachary Jordan Steele, Justin Talkington, and Ria Villaver (a comical Alexi Darling) complete the cast. Musical director Jay Brunner’s well-balanced orchestra, Eric Moore’s stark set comprised of scaffolding and graffiti, and Matthew P. Benjamin’s evocative lighting design are also noteworthy.
This week marks the 16th anniversary of Larson’s untimely death at the age of 35. Without question, WSU reminds us that his legacy will always endure.

“Rent” continues through Jan. 29 in the Festival Playhouse Stein Auditorium of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. Performances are Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 80 minutes; Act Two: 55 minutes. The show contains adult language and themes. Tickets are $18-$20. For tickets or more information, call (937) 775-2500.  In related news, Wright State has altered its 2012-13 season. The previously announced “Witness for the Prosecution” will be replaced by the return of the acclaimed“1913: The Great Dayton Flood,” originally presented in 1996.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews

The World According to Rothko

January 26, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. 2 Comments

(L to R) Michael Kenwood Lippert and Will Allan in Red (Photo by Scott J. Kimmins)

The didactic, thought-provoking perspectives of indomitable Russian-American abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) are the lifeblood of John Logan’s compelling drama “Red,” the recipient of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play methodically directed by Richard E. Hess in its splendid local premiere courtesy of the Human Race Theatre Company.

A luminous force among his highly-regarded contemporaries including Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, Rothko (born Marcus Rothkowitz) adamantly believed in the intrinsic magnetism of art beneath the surface. Colors have subtext. Contemplation matters. Discernment is paramount. The passionate, immensely self-absorbed titan purposefully demanded more from the beholder. In his view, art is alive, always moving, and must be perceived as a deeply meditative tool of discovery. Astutely, Logan displays Rothko in his heyday, the late 1950s, as he creates a series of murals for Manhattan’s swanky Four Seasons restaurant over a period of two years. Newly assisted by the inquisitive Ken, Rothko vows to make the restaurant a temple for his murals, but his commercial decision to compromise his artistic integrity for $35,000 is inescapable. As questions emerge and answers entice, Rothko and Ken’s eye-opening exchanges, encompassing Matisse, Michelangelo, Picasso and Warhol, reveal a striking father-son rapport that remarkably stings and surprises without one ounce of sappiness.
Human Race resident artist Michael Kenwood Lippert, in a superbly detailed, language-driven performance, paints an incredibly intimidating, unapologetic portrait of Rothko, who abhorred the idea of merely making “pretty pictures.” With imposing velocity and intellectual clout, Lippert effortlessly taps into the explosive assertiveness and egotism that fueled the artist’s inner fire. He particularly shines when furiously proclaiming Rothko’s distaste of the U.S. “living under the tyranny of fine” in addition to addressing his desire for artists to be knowledgeable of history, philosophy and mythology among other disciplines. Yet most impressively, he clearly grasps the sheer unstableness pulsating within Rothko’s angered, edgy disposition. While isolated from the world and its natural light inside his bleakly spacious studio (expertly lit by John Rensel and efficiently designed by Mark Halpin with properties by Heather Powell), Rothko appears to be in control yet cannot expunge his personal demons or the uncertain future of his craft as pop art develops, insights Lippert expresses with emotional truth.
Will Allan, an Oakwood High School graduate who continues to leave an imprint within the Chicago theater scene, equally electrifies as the eager Ken, a young, mysterious artist from Iowa. Foremost, he surpasses British actor Eddie Redmayne, who won a Tony for his portrayal even though he failed to capture Ken’s Midwestern sensibility and cadence. Still, Allan’s calculated proficiency extends beyond the fundamentals. From the opening minutes in which he stands transfixed in wide-eyed astonishment to his fiery tirade of hurt and exasperation toward the conclusion, he skillfully conveys an evolution grounded in awkward naiveté that blossoms with decisive confidence, especially as Ken, desiring to be valued in spite of a generational divide, grows increasingly comfortable challenging his employer. He also brings heartbreaking poignancy to an underdeveloped plot point concerning Ken’s tragic past, which is intended to make Rothko seem less heartless but feels incomplete and slightly contrived.
Blessed by Lippert and Allan’s fantastic teamwork, spiritedly and wordlessly intensified when priming a canvas in a truly unforgettable scene, “Red” presents Rothko’s iconic legacy and the vicissitudes of art with galvanizing impact.

“Red” continues through Feb. 5 at the Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is performed in 100 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $18.50-$40. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com. Also, two Rothko works will be exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute through Feb. 12. For more information, call the DAI at (937) 223-5277 or visit www.daytonartinstitute.org

In related news, the Human Race’s 2012-13 season will consist of the regional premiere of Janece Shaffer’s comedy “Managing Maxine” (Sept. 6-23), a reconceived staging of Lionel Bart’s classic musical “Oliver!” (Nov. 29-Dec. 16), the local premiere of Eric Simonson’s 2010 football drama “Lombardi” (Feb. 7-24), the local premiere of David Mamet’s 2009 provocative drama “Race” (Apr. 4-21), Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s naughty, puppet-driven 2004 Tony-winning Best Musical “Avenue Q” (June 6-23), and a season extra, local premiere  of Michael Slade’s psychological thriller “Under a Red Moon” (Oct. 18-28). For additional information, visit www.humanracetheatre.org

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews Tagged With: Franz Kline, Human Race Theatre Company, Jackson Pollock, John Logan, Loft Theatre, Mark Rothko, Red, Richard E. Hess

The Partnership of Arts, YPs and Rock and Roll

January 26, 2012 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

What do you get when you pair a Pink Floyd rock tribute with the Philharmonic? Or a couple fun-lovin’ DPO Board members with two local YPs groups? Or great food and a backstage tour? Or prizes, a live radio broadcast and crazy discounted tickets?

Lest you think this is the beginning of a REALLY complicated joke, I’m here to tell you – it’s Encore Night at the Dayton Philharmonic!

On Thursday, February 9, make a night of it with fellow young professionals!

5:30PM – Start the night at Uno’s Downtown where there will be complimentary appetizers, cash bar, prizes, and on-air “audio tweets” during a live radio remote with WTUE’s Aaron Klauber. Last prize is raffled off at 6:45 PM (must be present to win) when we cash out and the group heads across the street because…

7:15PM – We’re heading BACKSTAGE at the Schuster Center for a special tour and briefing hosted by Brent Havens (Windborne Conductor).

8:00PM – Get to your awesome seats specially reserved in the loge to hear what happens when progressive rock meets classical orchestra. The program features the music of Pink Floyd performed by the amazing Windborne Music backed by the full DPO!

This is a special night (with a crazy great discounted price) specifically to introduce YPs to the great time that is the Dayton arts scene and the Dayton Philharmonic. Tickets are only $30  – that’s more than 1/2 off plus they are actually waiving the $4 processing fee. You MUST order your tickets through the special link below or call Madea Thompson at 937-228-7591 x3222. This deal is only good through February 4th – after that the seats will be released and sold for the face value of $66 (plus that service charge). Don’t miss out!

**This event is NOT limited to previous participants of Generation Dayton or JumpstART – all local YPs are encouraged to attend.**

PURCHASE SPECIAL OFFER ONLINE:
resized__103x34_concerts_tickets_btn

Event hosted by jumpstART & DPO Trustees Lauren Hamer & Maha Kashani

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Young Professionals Tagged With: Dayton Philharmonic, DPO, Encore Nights at the Philharmonic, generation dayton, JumpstART, Pink Floyd, Schuster Performing Arts Center, Young Professionals, YPs

A DANGEROUS METHOD Opens Friday at THE NEON!

January 25, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

 

Hello Everyone,

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Utah. The conference (The Art House Convergence) was full of great networking and lots of invaluable information. After the conference, I managed to see a handful of films at The Sundance Film Festival and a collection of shorts at The Slamdance Film Festival (which included a short film from one of our previous employees – Liz Cambron…congrats to Liz for a great, sold-out screening!!).

If you still need to see TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (nominated for 3 Oscars), you only have until Thursday to see it at THE NEON. We will certainly hold onto THE ARTIST – nominated for 10 Oscars (including “Best Picture”). Audiences are loving this film.

On Friday, we will open a film that has been requested by several of you (and snubbed by the Academy) – A DANGEROUS METHOD. Directed by David Cronenberg and starring Michael Fassbender (FISH TANK, JANE EYRE and upcoming SHAME), Viggo Mortensen (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, THE ROAD) and Keira Knightley (ATONEMENT, NEVER LET ME GO), this is the story of Jung and Freud and the woman who came between them.

Synopsis for A DANGEROUS METHOD: “On the eve of World War I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, A Dangerous Method takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross, a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries. In this exploration of sensuality, ambition and deceit set the scene for the pivotal moment when Jung, Freud and Sabina come together and split apart, forever changing the face of modern thought” (taken from Sony Classics)

Visit the official website by clicking this LINK.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjyP9DjUdVk’]

“The Miami Valley School, Dayton’s only independent, college-preparatory school is proud to present a special one-time only screening of RACE TO NOWHERE on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. Considered to be the counter film to Waiting for Superman, RACE TO NOWHERE addresses the academic pressures facing students today and what we can do about it. Featuring heartbreaking stories of young people who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students are not developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, RACE TO NOWHERE points to the silent epidemic in our school: Students are pressured to perform and not necessarily to learn critical thinking skills…To see the trailer, please go to www.racetonowhere.com.  This is a free event and all are welcome!  Thursday, February 9, 2012 – Reception at 6:30 pm and screening begins at 7:30 pm, followed with Q & A session.” (taken from Miami Valley School press release)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uem73imvn9Y’]

On Saturday, February 25 at noon, The Junior Leaguers Club, Inc. will host a benefit screening of THUNDER SOUL. “THUNDER SOUL follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof,” their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.” (taken from press notes) Adult tickets (which include a glass of wine as well as soda & popcorn) are $30 each. Student tickets (which include soda and popcorn) are $15 each. For more information, please call (937)219-7501. Proceeds from this event will go to The Junior Leaguers Scholarship Fund. To check out more about THUNDER SOUL, visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiodQURIe0M’]

See you soon,

Jonathan

 

SHOWTIMES for Fri. January 27 – Thur. February 2:

A DANGEROUS METHOD (R) 1 Hrs 39 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

THE ARTIST (PG-13) 1 Hr 40 Min

Friday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30

Saturday: 12:30, 5:20, 7:20, 9:30

Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30

Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20

CALL OF THE SCENIC RIVER: AN OHIO JOURNEY

Saturday: 3:00 – This Screening Has SOLD OUT!

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Feb. ? ALBERT NOBBS

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

TBD SHAME

TBD A SEPARATION

March 16 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Filed Under: On Screen Dayton Tagged With: a dangerous method, a separation, albert nobbs, art house convergence, david cronenberg, Dayton Ohio, glenn close, indie movies, michael fassbender, Oscars, shame, the artist, The Neon, tilda swinton, tinker tailor soldier spy, we need to talk about kevin

Band of Brothers

January 25, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. 1 Comment

(L to R) Brandon Andrus, Brad Weinstock, Jason Kappus and Colby Foytik as The Four Seasons in Jersey Boys (Photo by Joan Marcus)

“Jersey Boys,” which captured the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical and remains one of the most popular jukebox musicals on the Great White Way, enjoyably depicts the triumphs and pitfalls of legendary 1960s hitmakers The Four Seasons.

Sleekly directed by Des McAnuff in one of his finest efforts and presented at the Schuster Center courtesy of the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Partners Broadway Series, “Jersey Boys” chronicles the talented blue-collar troupe from their rocky evolution in the 1950s to their 1990 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Instead of adopting the common jukebox trend of shoe-horned songs taking conceptual precedence (a shortcoming of “Mamma Mia!” and “Million Dollar Quartet”), librettists Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice wisely craft terrifically authentic, fully developed central characters (not caricatures) that resonate as strongly as the assortment of pop classics which smoothly accent the story. In addition to constructing infectious momentum in the middle of Act 1 with three knockout numbers in a row (“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man”), Brickman and Elise’s delightfully personable, occasionally gripping narrative, full of intriguing revelations, evenly spotlights the rise and fall of the group within the appropriate backdrops of spring, summer, fall and winter.

As Frankie Valli (born Francis Castelluccio), the admirable Carlos Valdes possesses a firmly distinctive, Valli-esque falsetto and a delightfully youthful spunk which effectively dissolves as Frankie matures. Delivering superb renditions of “Moody’s Mood for Love” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Valdes greatly connects in the darker Act 2 as the philandering Frankie comes to grips with the pains of touring and his fractured relationship with his drug-addicted daughter. Colby Foytik is a charming scoundrel as troublesome Tommy DeVito, whose shady financial dealings plague the troupe beyond belief. The marvelously understated Brandon Andrus, bearing a striking resemblance to Craig Bierko, substantively embodies the unassuming, plain-spoken Nick Massi with a sharply droll attitude. As Bob Gaudio, who composed the hit “Who Wears Short Shorts” at age 15, Jason Kappus endearingly blends with his fellow cohorts, who are crisply choreographed with suave masculinity by Sergio Trujillo.

Barry Anderson (a standout as the Four Season’s flamboyant producer/lyricist Bob Crewe), E. Clayton Cornelious, Kaleigh Cronin, Thomas Fiscella, Natalie Gallo (a lovely inclusion in “My Eyes Adored You”), Ruby Lewis (leading a feisty “My Boyfriend’s Back”) and Christopher Messina are notable in featured roles.

A particular draw for men who enjoy musicals served with testosterone, “Jersey Boys” wholeheartedly entertains as a prime source of toe-tapping nostalgia.

“Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons” continues through Feb. 5 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Act One: 75 minutes; Act Two: 60 minutes. Brad Weinstock and Hayden Milanes are also cast as Frankie Valli. Tickets are $42-$111. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews, The Featured Articles

Oscar-Worthy Books

January 24, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Six of the nine Oscar nominated best films began their lives as novels. Considering the vast majority of movies don’t do their literary counterparts justice, it would be fascinating to see if the Oscar nominated books were as riveting as their films.

The Descendants, a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings

This debut novel regularly receives four stars and kudos for its humor and heartbreaking emotion. The structure of the movie is faithful to the book, with several characters given more dimension in the book. Several scenes and sections of dialogue are taken directly from the book. It can’t hurt to have nominated George Clooney as Best Actor for the movie as well.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer

A sophomore novel by Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close follows Foer’s standout novel and accompanying movie, Everything is Illuminated.

Foer’s books are an acquired taste but they are still given more than four stars by most readers. Some complain of the odd passages, overwritten text, and illustrations but the movie seems to make the story accessible to all. Max Von Sydow is nominated for Best Supporting Actor and doesn’t utter a single word in the movie.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

With another debut novel, Stockett has become the patron saint of thwarted novelists. She famously gave an interview explaining that The Help took five years to write and racked up over 60 rejections before becoming a bestseller and collecting nearly four stars from every review site. Even her husband suggested she abandon the book and move on to something else.

The movie is superbly cast with a trio of fierce actresses, each deserving a nomination. It did gain best actress for Viola Davis (Abilene) and two supporting actress for the stunning Octavia Spencer (Minnie) and Jessica Chastain (Celia). Only Emma Stone was neglected.

Moneyball, novel by Michael Lewis

The only non-fiction book on the list, Moneyball is regularly ranked four stars and above, even by non-sports lovers. The theory heavy book found the heart of the story, replicating the success Lewis had with his other novel turned blockbuster, The Blind Side.

Brad Pitt is nominated for Best Actor, Jonah Hill is nominated for a Best Supporting Actor for his fictional character, Peter Brand, and the movie is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick

The children’s book by Selznick is an inventive mix of picture book, children’s novel, graphic novel, and mystery. Hugo, the movie, takes its cues from the cinematic book, delivering a rich ready-made story. It is nominated for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay as well.

War Horse, novel by Michael Murpurgo

Another children’s novel, War Horse was first released in 1982. Adapted into a play first and then into a movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, it is both a moving, brief book and a riveting epic movie.

The book, at only 192 pages, regularly ranks four stars and above and can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

Of the entire Oscar nominated films, what book do you most want to read?

Filed Under: Dayton Literati

THE ARTIST – Now Playing at THE NEON!

January 20, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

 

Hello Everyone,

I’m going to keep this update short and sweet.  I’ve been running around Park City, and I’ve returned to the hotel where the internet connection is terribly slow.

As of today (Jan. 20), THE NEON is now playing one of the best reviewed films of 2011…and in my opinion, it’s fantastic!  Do not miss THE ARTIST – winner of the Golden Globe for “Best Picture – Musical or Comedy.”  For showtimes, please visit www.neonmovies.com.

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

Thanks much…and see you soon!

Jonathan

 

Filed Under: On Screen Dayton Tagged With: albert nobbs, dangerous method, Dayton Ohio, Golden Globes, indie film, oscar, Oscars, shame, the artist, The Neon, tinker tailor soldier spy, we need to talk about kevin

The Power And Light Of Dow Thomas

January 19, 2012 By J.T. Ryder Leave a Comment

Dayton And The World Loses A Comedy Icon

 

Dow Thomas: Comedian & Musician 1953-2012

Sifting through scattered memories, most of which are second hand recollections that occurred before my time, I find myself overwhelmed by a life lived with a manic exuberance. I found out about comedian Dow Thomas’ passing from a friend and regular customer of Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub who called to inform me of the news. I stayed up until around 2:00am poring over the condolences that poured out from all over the country, cascading down from Dow’s Facebook page and other social media outlets. I looked through pictures that I had of Dow, read through transcripts from interviews I had done with him and reflected on conversations that we had had in the past. While many around me knew Dow longer and were closer friends than he and I were, Dow possessed the ability to make you feel that you were the only one in the room. Even during performances where there were a hundred or more people in the room, he made you feel as if you were within his inner circle, that this was an intimate gathering of friends and not just a group of people watching a performance. Even beyond his unerring talent and exuberant imagination, this was his true gift.

Born in Chillicothe and raised in the Akron/Cleveland area, Dow moved to the Dayton area in 1971 to attend Wright State as a theater major, a fitting field of study for someone who had been familiar with the stage for much of his youth. Even though Dow was not a native ofDayton, he embraced the area with the fervor that a lifelong resident should have.

“I didn’t originally come from Dayton. I just kind of adopted the city in 1971. I moved to the area to go to Wright State and I just stayed.” Dow said during one of our conversations. “I ended up living in downtown Dayton. I used to hang out at the Arcade a lot there. I’m a downtown kind of guy.”

Dow Thomas as Cléante in Molière’s Tartuffe

Dow was very active in the drama department while at Wright State, performing in several theater productions, such as Shakespear’s Romeo and Juliet and a pair of Molière’s plays; That Scoundrel Scapin and as Cléante in Tartuffe. In the latter drama, he caught the eye of a fellow student, Rob Haney, which signaled the beginning to a lifelong friendship.

As his hair grew, so did Dow’s creative yearnings. He began playing music around town, playing at venues that are but a mere memory to most Daytonians.

“I started my shows at the Upper Krust on North Main St. for ten dollars a day. I liked being up on North Main because I liked to go to shows and Gilly’s used to be up on North Main and there was also The Tropics and Suttmiller’s, which was fun for me to go see supper club type comedians like Jerry Van Dyke or Pete Barbutti and those kind of guys.”

Even though many venues and stages were opening themselves up to Dow’s music and acting, this was still not enough to contain Dow’s imaginative energies. He started sneaking his oddly skewed humor into his songs and banter with the audience.

A poster from 1972 for the Upper Krust

“I was actually doing comedy in 1972, but at that time there weren’t any comedy clubs, so I was just doing comedy along with music. I would get hired as a musician/entertainer and just add in the comedy in between songs.” Dow reflected. “I would always put on masks and stuff…I just can’t help myself from clowning around. I’d have the gig and eventually I had bands, but when I clowned around, everyone clowned around with me. What was always part of the show was me being stupid. It was what I said in between songs and me ruining songs, like singing like a dog and getting a ‘bark along’ going.”

In those days, you may have seen Dow tooling around town in his hearse, decked out like a Bohemian undertaker, black clad and sporting his ubiquitous top hat, running from gig to gig. He played with Astrid Socrates for seven years (creatively billed as Astrid & Dow) as well as drummer Doug Buchanan Tim McKenzie on lead guitar during yet another incarnation of his ingenuity. He was a featured act at The Trolley Stop, Clancy’s, the Iron Boar and Bogey’s.

Comics don’t need to spend actual time together to feel like brethren or family.  We are constantly accruing that common experience that instantly bonds us all separately and continually.  But, few of us are as pure, kind, original, and superbly funny as Uncle Dow.  I feel forever indebted to him for making it possible for me to ever start and I know that anyone who knew him feels like they, too are some of the luckiest people alive.  Uncle Dow made people laugh, but even more so he made them feel alive and always made them smile. ~Ryan Singer

“I’ll never forget the day Dow Thomas and my path crossed. I was part owner of a night club called Bogey’s onWatervliet Ave. in Dayton when Dow and Jeffro stopped in after buying guitar strings at Ace Music.” Mike Adams reminisced recently. “Things weren’t going very well at the bar and we couldn’t afford a barmaid or a cook so I was working. Dow Thomas ordered two drinks and asked for a menu and ordered a sandwich. Upon serving him he asked who owned the place and I confessed. He asked how things were going and I said not to well. He said he could tell. He asked if I had ever heard of Dow Thomas and I said yes but had never seen him and he told me I was talking to him. He offered to do a show one night a week for free as long as I didn’t interfere with him trying new material. I lost a lot of money owning that bar but memories like this makes the money seem irrelevant.”

Dow also frequently played in a bar onPatterson Road called the Iron Boar and becoming steadfast friends with the owners, Dan and Jodi Lafferty.

“We used to do a Gong Show at the Iron Boar and it was fun because we’d have some guy come up and go, ‘I’m going to do my imitation of a lobster’ and we’d go, ‘Good!’  So he’d put claws on and hop around like a freak…it was just so stupid!” Dow began chuckling to himself on the phone before going on. “I used to do a thing called Punt The Fish and I’d yell out, ‘It’s time to…’ the audience would scream, ‘Punt the Fish!’ I had this rubber fish and audience members would come up and kick this fish and we’d measure it off with toilet paper and the one who kicked it the farthest won. One night I had this woman up on stage and she kicked the fish and it went into the propeller of the ceiling fan and came back and smacked me in the face. Everybody was just laughing and I stood up and screamed, ‘Disqualified!’ It was all just so stupid, but you’ll never be able to have a moment like that ever again.”

In ’91 when I took over Jokers Comedy Café, Dow was running the open mic night.  I’d never heard of Dow and looking at this man in a black trench coat and top hat, I have to admit my first impression was not great-   he’s gonna be dark and sarcastic and egotistical, I thought.  I could not have been more wrong!  Dow loved being on stage and his joy radiated through the crowd. He would have an audience pounding their table to Power & Light, and tossing paper plates across the room as he sang Sail Cats. ~Lisa Grigsby

The comedy began usurping the music and Dan Lafferty began booking ventriloquists, jugglers and other oddball acts to fill out the shows.

“I used to have people like Jay Haverstick, who owned Jay’s Seafood, he would come and see my shows. So would Mike Peters. They would be out late at night and they would just say, ‘Hey! Let’s go and see what crazy Dow is doing!’” Dow said during another conversation. He went on, describing another huge change that was bout to occur in his life. “But there wasn’t a comedy club, so I left forL.A.I gave them (the Lafferty’s) a one year’s notice (laughing) and said, ‘In a year, I’m going toL.A.’ and that’s when we turned it into a comedy club.”

Eventually, the Lafferty’s decided to change not only the whole format of the club to comedy, but the name itself. In an unexplainable instance where someone could legitimately name a comedy club Lafferty’s, Dan decided to use his nickname instead, dubbing the newly restructured club Wiley’s.

Dow, true to his word, eventually left forLa-LaLand, seeking his fame and fortune, both of which proved to be elusive in the land of silicone and sunshine. He found that the venues that were available to him were less than conducive to his creative talents. At one point, he found himself doing sets between bouts at a boxing match and, towards his triumphant return toDayton, he was unceremoniously replaced with disco music at a Newport Beachclub. Yet the comedy scene was heating up nationally and Dow was riding the cusp of this chaotic wave. The shows were not the structured tight sets that we witness now in the clubs, but were given to more improvisational melees and surprise guests.

“There were these guys like Rich Purpura, who was a comedy/magician, and Tim Walko, a guitarist, and they were both fromChicago. We’d do a show, just packing the place, but at the end, we’d just get up there and jam and kept the show going and clown around with each other.” Dow said. “By then, we were just trying to make each other laugh, and that’s what the audience liked. It was kind of like. It was kind of like having the Rat Pack or something. It was that kind of feel, where everybody’s in the groove. Back then I could have Emo Philips come in and do twenty minutes and then I’d get a chance to go to the bathroom. Then maybe Judy Tenuta would come in and do twenty to thirty minutes and then I’d get a chance to go to the bathroom. For me, I thought it should go on all night.”

Rob Haney

Another person that benefitted from the burgeoning comedy scene was Rob Haney, a newly touring comic and future owner of Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub.

“Rob Haney came up to me one time and said, ‘Can I get up and do some time? I just got back from The Comedy Store.’ He had just done some showcasing there…which surprised me because Rob was a bouncer in a bar I used to work at.” Dow recalled that, “When I first met him, he was a doorman at a place called The Bar inWest Carrollton. It was a rough little joint that ended up being Omar’s for a while. It was an old basement bar and the family that owned it was pretty rugged. I actually had guns pulled on me in that bar. I’ve seen him mace guys and throw guys out…he’s a pretty tough guy. He had like shoulder length hair at the time and pretty well built, so it was a different Rob Haney that came up to me with short hair and asked if he could do like twenty minutes and I said, ‘Sure!’ I let him up at the Trolley Stop and I had a gig there like six nights a week…it was crazy.”

Another iconic staple of the Miami Valley that Dow had a huge role in was with his friend Dr. Creep (Barry Hobart) and Shock Theater. The inception of Shock Theater was supposed to be actually scary, as an accompaniment to the B-rated horror flicks that they screened, but the campy ineptness and irrepressible humor of Dr. Creep and the people that worked on the show quickly made the show a campy carnival for all of those late night viewers.

“I ended up getting on just about every television show in Dayton, but I got with Dr. Creep in the late seventies when it was called Saturday Night Dead because they had him on after Saturday Night Live, so it was kind of a neat spot.” Dow went on to say, “So I wrote The Ballad of Dr. Creep and went on there with my girlfriend at the time, Astrid Socrates and also with a bunch of my friends and we did skits.”

Barry Hobart (Dr. Creep) And Dow

“You know, what’s funny about that whole thing is that they became the number one, locally produced television show while I was writing for them. They would go, ‘Okay, we’re showing Dracula: Prince of Darkness’ and we made up the Bat Photo Studio and all of the prints would come out really dark, and customer’s would comment, ‘Wow! These prints are really dark!’ and I’d go, ‘Well, I am Dracula: Prints of Darkness! Sometimes I accidently cut their heads off!’ and I’d hold up a severed head. It was just stupid stuff like that.” With a tinge of regret, Dow added, “Of course, Joe Smith said, ‘No, you can’t do this and you can’t do that.’ He was an integral part of the studio there, so I got censored quite a bit and got into a little bit of trouble. I remember John Riggi and I getting yelled at because we changed the weather map one time. We got up there and started putting a bunch of tornados around Xenia…they were just little magnetized things back in those days. We were hippies in a studio that had rules.”

Dow played some forty different clubs in the MiamiValley the years that he was here and developed a huge fan base locally as well as in other cities that he performed in. In 1997, he moved to Florida with his wife Kay and they took up residence at some of the local clubs near their new home. Even after his departure, Dow was voted Dayton’s Best Comedian for two year’s running. He would still make frequent sojourns to Ohio, usually performing at Wiley’s one to two times a year, creating comedic chaos with his skewed humor and especially with his song Sailcats, in which he would cajole the audience into throwing paper plates in lieu of flattened kittens as the song implied. The staff would usually find the last paper plate stuck in the rafter shortly before Dow’s next scheduled appearance.

Dow Thomas At Dirty Little Secret Sanitarium Show

I contacted Dow in February of 2011 to ask if he would perform at my upcoming Dirty Little Secret Sanitarium show in May. He was eager to do the show because of the variety aspect of the event, but was reluctant in some ways, feeling that it would be a conflict of interests with his Wiley’s appearances. Rob Haney assured him that there would be no conflict and he agreed to do the show. That evening became an impromptu reunion of sorts in honor of Dr. Creep as not only had Dow worked closely with him, but so had some of the other performers slated for that evening. Thomas Nealeigh from FreakShow Deluxe had worked with Dr. Creep as had A. Ghastlee Ghoul. Our emcee for the evening was Dr. Creep’s protégé  Baron Von Pork Shop and some of the members of Team Void had recorded music for Shock Theater’s DVD’s. Dow had a blast at the show and had garnered yet a few more fans for his cult of comedy.

I contacted him again this past December to see if he wanted to be part of the Dirty Little Secrets Sick Of Santa Show and he readily agreed. We spent the rest of the conversation talking about old horror movies and other trivialities. On the night of the show, December 28th, 2011, his wife Kay showed up at the club saying that Dow was really sick and would be unable to perform. Seeing the look on her face and knowing Dow’s penchant for performing, I knew then that it was ore serious than she was letting on. The next evening, Dow arrived at Wiley’s to do his Thursday night set and we could all tell that something was wrong. The current owner, Rob Haney, and other staff and friends finally convinced Dow he needed to seek medical attention. He was admitted toMiamiValleyHospital and, two days later was released. He performed the New Year’s Eve show as well as the shows the following week.

His last show on January 7th, 2012 was astounding. Offstage, he seemed somewhat fragile, but as soon as he was on stage, that glimmer came into his eyes and the casual smirk shown across his face. He performed Sailcats and wheedled the audience into throwing the paper plates once again, daring any one of them to land one of them on his top hat. It was a picture perfect performance where someone actually landed a paper plate onto his top hat. The show ended with a standing ovation for our Uncle Dow, with audience members shouting out their approval and appreciation for Dow’s show.

After the show, Dow was surrounded by family and friends, well wishers and fans. It was the way of Dow: that feeling that you just needed to be near him and everything would be alright. You would be safely ensconced in his world.

Shortly after returning to Akron, Dow was hospitalized. He died January 18th, 2012. The outpouring of condolences and memories was immediate and Dow’s Facebook page became a makeshift memorial for a legion of stunned fans and friends to share their grief as well as their memories.

I think now of the boarded up Upper Crust, the warped wooden floors of the Trolley Stop, the comfortably worn carpet of the Wiley’s stage and I can hear the clank of glasses against the cascading laughter and see Dow with a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he dons a mask and unleashes a dialogue of absurdity in the voice of Lon Chaney. I can see him on stage doing what he did best: fashioning a world without limits, pushing the envelope until it bent and combining chords to nonsensical songs that bring laughter to all who are compelled to bang their glasses on the table and sing along. I see him smile down from the stage wearing a paper plate atop his felted hat, an improvised halo for our imaginative jester.

Read my previous article from 12/2010 – “Dow-Town Dayton”

Filed Under: Comedy, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Clancy's Bogie's, comedian, Comedy, comic, Dan Lafferty, Dayton Music, death, Dow Thomas, Dr. Creep, guitar, Iron Boar, Jodi Lafferty, Jokers, obituary, passing, Rob Haney, Sailcats, Shock Theater, trolley stop, Wiley's Comedy Niteclub

This Syd Wasn’t Vicious. This Syd Was Visionary.

January 17, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

DPO presents The Music of Pink Floyd with Windborne

At times, genius has been known to border on insanity.

Though some consider that statement a myth, recent research out of Sweden argues  that it could be true. Case in point: Pink Floyd co-founder and rock legend Syd Barrett.

Pink Floyd set the standard for progressive and psychedelic rock. Often times their lyrics were downright thoughtful, the art on their albums inventive, their sound untested, and their live performances sophisticated and intricate. As a result, they achieved worldwide success selling over 200 million albums and earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

None of which would have been possible without the innovative genius of Syd Barrett.

In 1965, the four members of the original band (Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Syd) were all students. Sid’s drive and leadership led to the release of two singles that made the charts, Arnold Layne and See Emily Play, followed by their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in December 1967. Not long after, suffering from failing mental health Syd left the group.

Along with the problems that marked Syd’s changed nature the group had lost the benefit of his genius. For example, he had written two original songs (Butterfly and Lucy Leave) for their first demo tape; played around with lengthy instrumental jaunts and  elementary slide-and-colored-light shows. Syd’s personal moves on stage were high-spirited, improvised, and bordering on inspired madness. Madness that began to have a detrimental effect on the group’s future.

Syd began abusing LSD.

At one concert, guitar around his neck, Syd simply stood still on stage with his arms hanging down. While taping for The Pat Boone Show, Syd mimed a song perfectly in rehearsal then stood perfectly still during the take.

Pink Floyd was at its wits end. It added David Gilmour as its fifth member, hopefully to  cover for Syd’s foul-ups and – as a last resort – keep Syd on solely to write. Frustrated with his new role on the sidelines, Syd started teaching the band a new song, Have You Got It Yet? It couldn’t; whether purposely or not, Syd kept changing the arrangement on each performance, and the group couldn’t learn it.

In March 1968, Syd left Pink Floyd. He had been the creative genius behind the group. Now he couldn’t even remember he had left, turning up for a play date every now and again, bewildered as to what was happening. When Pink Floyd was working on a new album, Syd showed up unannounced and left without saying goodbye. Except for a run-in between Waters and Syd a few years later, none of the group ever saw him again.

In the 35 years since having left the group, Syd had all but disappeared. He dabbled with painting and spent most of his time gardening. On July 7, 2006, 60-year-old Syd Barrett died at his home in Cambridgeshire, England. No Pink Floyd members attended his funeral.

Syd is gone, but his genius remains.

The British national press has praised his contributions to music.

David Bowie has called Syd Barrett a major inspiration.

A teenage The Edge (of U2 fame) bought his first delay pedal after hearing the opening to Animals.

The Pet Shop Boys paid homage to The Wall during a performance in Boston.

Foo Fighters, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Tool, Queensryche, Scissor Sisters, Rush, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Mudvayne, Nine Inch Nails, Primus and Smashing Pumpkins, some of whom have recorded Pink Floyd covers, have all been influenced by Syd Barrett.

In 1975 even Pink Floyd paid tribute to Syd with the album Wish You Were Here.

Syd is gone, but the genius of his visionary music and concert techniques lives on.

On Thursday, February 9 at 8 pm ­in the Schuster Center, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will present The Music of Pink Floyd with Windborne, the second concert in the DPO’s Rockin’ Orchestra Series.  (Click for Tickets)

Conductor Brent Havens and rock ensemble Windborne Music will join the DPO and bring the full glory of Pink Floyd’s sound to the Mead stage, deftly melding rock with orchestra in a setting of mesmerizing visual effects.

Syd would have approved.

 

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton, The Featured Articles

Enchanting Entertainment

January 14, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. Leave a Comment

MUSE MACHINE Wizard of OZThe Muse Machine delivers a first-rate, crowd-pleasing production of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” the arts education organization’s 28th annual student musical presented at the Victoria Theatre.

Over 100 Muse students from across the Miami Valley are featured in director Rufus Bonds, Jr.’s faithful, fluid and fast-paced staging of the beloved 1939 film, adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company and fueled with fantastic tunes by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. In addition to strong, engaging portrayals by key players and music director Timothy Olt’s steady orchestra, a truly vibrant ensemble executes Lula Elzy’s lively choreography with unified joy, especially in the absolutely adorable Munchkinland sequence, sprightly “Merry Old Land of Oz” and exuberant “Jitterbug.”
As Dorothy Gale, Madeline Shelton impresses far beyond her lovely rendition of “Over the Rainbow.” Fully present in each moment and particularly careful not to underplay the pivotal Kansas scenes, Shelton astutely showcases the spectrum of Dorothy’s capricious personality from bratty insensitivity to poignant self-awareness. She is also firmly supported by a delightful trio consisting of the amiably understated Dan Baughn (Hunk/Scarecrow), very endearing Davis Sullivan (Hickory/Tin Man), who delivered a breakthrough performance as Jack in last year’s Muse production of “Into the Woods,” and charming, fittingly Bert Lahr-esque Jeremiah Plessinger (Zeke/Cowardly Lion).
Further, Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo is terrifically intimidating as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, Cameron Hale Elliott distinctively tackles the roles of Professor Marvel, Emerald City Guard and The Wizard of Oz, Paige McDonald and Patrick Espy are believably bonded as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Kaja Burke-Williams, Carly Snyder (a phenomenal Little Red Ridinghood in “Into the Woods”) and Ellen Geiselman hit the mark as feisty, sashaying trees, and Hayley Penchoff, possessing a striking Billie Burke sensibility and timbre, shines as Glinda.
Equipped with colorful sets and costumes provided by Music Theatre of Wichita, this thoroughly entertaining “Oz,” dynamically accented with whimsical and ominous flourishes courtesy of sound/film designer David Sherman, is an enchanting example of the Muse pedigree.

“The Wizard of Oz” continues through Jan. 15 at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. Performances are Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 65 minutes; Act Two: 60 minutes. Tickets are $25-$59. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 147
  • Page 148
  • Page 149
  • Page 150
  • Page 151
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 181
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Submit An Event to Dayton937

- Featured Events -

Loading view.
  • Previous week
  • Next week
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

1:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Huber Heights Branch

Rolling Easy

5:00 pm
Yellow Springs Brewery

$3 Burger Night

5:00 pm
Bullwinkle's Top Hat Bistro

Bourbon and Cigar Night

6:00 pm
Trolley Stop

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

7:15 pm
Dayton Playhouse

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

7:30 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Monday Night Laughs!

8:00 pm
Oregon Express
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

11:00 am
Win Supply

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

12:00 pm
O Reilly Auto Parts

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

2:30 pm
The Neon

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

6:00 pm
RiverScape MetroPark

 Herb Garden Make & Take Workshop

6:30 pm
Mystic Life

Trivia with Rob

7:00 pm
The Phone Booth Lounge

Progressive Euchre Tournament

7:00 pm
Star City Brewing Company

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

7:15 pm
Dayton Playhouse

Jazz Night

7:30 pm
Tender Mercy
+ 2 More
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds

Fairborn Farmers Market

10:00 am
Fairborn Farmers Market

Adult Stretch

1:00 pm
Franklin-Springboro Public Libary

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

3:00 pm
Old Salem Mall

Miamisburg Farmers Market

3:00 pm
Miamisburg Christian Church

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

5:00 pm
Devil Wind Brewing

July Wine Tasting

6:00 pm
Manna Uptown

Bourbon vs Barrel: The Ultimate Pairing Experience

6:00 pm
Mode X

Trivia Night at Alematic

7:00 pm
Alematic Artisan Ales

Live Trivia

7:00 pm
Star City Brewing Company
+ 2 More
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Ongoing

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

8:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Country Concert 2025

8:00 am

Art Start Pre-School Storytime

11:30 am
Rosewood Arts Centre

Open Coworking

12:00 pm
The Hub at Dayton Arcade

Launch Pad

12:00 pm
The Hub at Dayton Arcade

Ermal’s Hefeweizen Launch

4:00 pm
Warped Wing Brewing Company

National Shark Week Movie: Jaws

4:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library West Branch

Lebanon Farmers Market

4:00 pm
Bicentennial Park

Grapes & Groves

5:00 pm
Heather's Coffee & Cafe

Englewood Market

5:00 pm
englewood Market

Rolling Easy

5:00 pm
D20: A Bar with Characters

Culture Kitchen

5:00 pm
2nd Street Market

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Live Music from Jason Swann Trio at Whisperz Speakeasy

6:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Artist Talk: Erin Holscher Almazan

6:30 pm
The Contemporary Dayton
+ 12 More
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Ongoing

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

8:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Birdies and Bogeys for Breast Wishes

9:00 am
Pipestone Golf Course

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

4:00 pm
Rip Rap Roadhouse

The Great Dayton Food Truck Rally- 50 Trucks

5:00 pm
Front Street Studios

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Wire-Wrapped Succulents: a Two-Part Workshop with Jenn & Shanon Queen

6:00 pm
Blue Sky Coffee

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

6:00 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Foam Frenzy

6:30 pm
Wilson Park

Candlelight Reading Night

7:00 pm
Davis-Linden Building

Head Games: A Tribute to Foreigner

7:00 pm
Stubbs Park

Velvet Crush on the Patio

7:00 pm
Heather's Coffee & Cafe

Yam Yam

7:00 pm
Levitt Pavilion

Star City Free Concert Series

7:00 pm
Riverfront Park

Shrek The Musical

7:00 pm
Epiphany Lutheran Church

Shrek The Musical

7:00 pm
Epiphany Lutheran Church

Firefly Party

8:30 pm
Caesar Ford Park
+ 9 More
All Day

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Ongoing

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

8:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Dragons 5K

8:00 am
Day Air Ballpark

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

8:00 am
John Bryan Community Center

2025 Dragons 5K

8:00 am
Water Street District

2nd Annual Lebanon Pride Festiva

8:00 am
Mulberry Plaza

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

8:30 am
Franklin Farmers Market

Oakwood Farmers Market

9:00 am
Oakwood Farmers Market

Greene County Farmers Market

9:00 am
Beavercreek Farmers Market

Shiloh Farmers Market

9:00 am
Shiloh Church

Yoga in the Park

10:00 am
RiverScape MetroPark

Dayton’s First-Ever M Cruise-In

10:00 am
BMW of Dayton

Farmers Market at The Heights

10:00 am
Eichelberger Amphitheater

New Carlisle Farmer’s Market

10:00 am
Downtown New Carlisle

Waynesville Street Faire

10:00 am
Downtown Waynesville

Planting a Shade Garden

10:00 am
Cox Arboretum

THE MARKET

11:00 am
Town & Country Shopping Center

Saturday Art Hop at Art Encounters

11:00 am
Front Street

Greek Fest

11:00 am
Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church

 Smoke and Stroll Saturday

11:00 am
420 Dayton

Underground Railroad Walking Tour

11:30 am
Springboro Area Historical Society

Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon Exhibit Opens

12:00 pm
The Dayton Art Institute

Freakin Ricans

12:00 pm

Road Rally Scavenger Hunt

1:00 pm
Kettering Recreation Complex
+ 25 More
Ongoing

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

8:00 am
Darke County Fairgrounds

Christmas in July Half Marathon & 5K Dayton

8:00 am
Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway

Locking Up Otis

8:00 am
Wright Station

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

9:00 am
Downtown Troy

Dayton Summer Wedding Expo

11:00 am
Hilton Garden Inn Beavercreek

DAYTON MAC N’ CHEESE FEST 2025

11:00 am
The Brightside Event & Music Venue

Porsche and Packards

12:00 pm
America's Packard Museum

Pencils and Prompts: Drawing Basics

12:30 pm
Dayton Society of Artists - DSA

Tomato Workshop

1:00 pm
Possum Creek MetroPark

Sketcher Social Session: Advanced Drawing

2:30 pm
Dayton Society of Artists - DSA

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia
+ 7 More

Week of Events

Mon 7

Tue 8

Wed 9

Thu 10

Fri 11

Sat 12

Sun 13

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

Montgomery County Fair

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

The 173rd Montgomery County Fair is back and better than ever! This 2025, we’re celebrating Red, White & Bloom with an unforgettable weekend packed...

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

July 10 @ 8:00 am - July 13 @ 9:00 pm

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

July 10 @ 8:00 am - July 13 @ 9:00 pm

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

Antique tractor and gas engine show with flea market at the historic Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville, OH. Daily admission...

$5.00
July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

July 10 @ 8:00 am - July 13 @ 9:00 pm

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

July 7 - July 12

Montgomery County Fair

July 10 @ 8:00 am - July 13 @ 9:00 pm

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

July 10 @ 8:00 am - July 13 @ 9:00 pm

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

July 7 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

Each session of this freeform art class will focus on a different children's book illustrators' works and provide children an...

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Rolling Easy

July 7 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Rolling Easy

Mobile food trailer w/ freshly made street food: crispy wonton rolls filled with fresh ingredients, prime rib sliders, grilled cheese...

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

July 7 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

From 5-10pm you can choose from the following: for $3 - it's a plain burger on a bun, $4 -...

$3
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bourbon and Cigar Night

July 7 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Bourbon and Cigar Night

Choose 1 cigar Get a flight of Jefferson’s (three 1 oz pours) Sign up on Eventbrite space is limited to...

$35
7:15 pm

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

July 7 @ 7:15 pm

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

 Performances:Weekends, September 5–21 Join us for this spooky, kooky musical comedy! We’re looking for kind, hardworking people who want to...

Free
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

July 7 @ 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT at Miami Valley Sports Bar - Justin's Famous Luck of the Draw Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament!!! Each...

$10.00
8:00 pm Recurring

Monday Night Laughs!

July 7 @ 8:00 pm Recurring

Monday Night Laughs!

  Join us every Monday at Oregon Express for Comedy Open Mic hosted by the hilarious G-Money! Sign-ups at 8:00PM...

11:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

July 8 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

July 8 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

July 8 @ 2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

Tuesday at the Neon in Downtown Dayton movies are just $6.50

$6.50
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

July 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

Offered by Immortal Tree Qigong. Each hour-long Tai Chi & Qigong session will start with breathing exercises, warm up, and...

Free
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

 Herb Garden Make & Take Workshop

July 8 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

 Herb Garden Make & Take Workshop

 Herb Garden Make & Take Workshop Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | 6:30–8:00 PMHosted at Mystic Life | $20 per person Join...

$20
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Trivia with Rob

July 8 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Trivia with Rob

Come test your brain, enjoy great food and drinks, and have some fun!

7:00 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Progressive Euchre Tournament

July 8 @ 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm Recurring

Progressive Euchre Tournament

Are you ready for a fun, social evening with fellow Euchre enthusiasts? Look no further! Our progressive Euchre tournament is...

7:15 pm Recurring

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

July 8 @ 7:15 pm Recurring

Auditions for THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical

 Performances:Weekends, September 5–21 Join us for this spooky, kooky musical comedy! We’re looking for kind, hardworking people who want to...

Free
+ 2 More
10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

July 9 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

The Fairborn Farmers Market was established with the intent to provide the Fairborn community access to fresh and wholesome products...

Free
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Adult Stretch

July 9 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Adult Stretch

Adults ages 16 and up are invited to an afternoon session of stretching and more! Donna Gambino is owner of...

Free
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

July 9 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

A celebration of locally sourced foods and products from small businesses in Trotwood and the surrounding communities! Stop by and...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

July 9 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

Miamisburg Farmers MarketAt Miamisburg Christian Church parking lot.1146 E. Central Ave in Miamisburg.Fresh Produce, sweet treats, food trucks and more..

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

July 9 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Beckers SMASH-tastic Burgers

Single Single smash patty on a brioche bun $9.00 Single with Bacon Single smash patty and bacon on a brioche...

6:00 pm

July Wine Tasting

July 9 @ 6:00 pm

July Wine Tasting

Summer Table: a refined twist on the Southern cookout MENU Fried alligator with stuffed onion rings and chimichurri aioli; Mirabelle...

$79
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Bourbon vs Barrel: The Ultimate Pairing Experience

July 9 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Bourbon vs Barrel: The Ultimate Pairing Experience

Join ModeX Tequila Bistro and Wright Dunbar Cigars for a night of fire-grilled meats, aged bourbon, and hand-selected premium cigars....

$95
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

Trivia Night at Alematic

July 9 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

Trivia Night at Alematic

Grab some friends and join us every Wednesday night at the brewery for a pint of your favorite ALEMATIC brew...

+ 2 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Country Concert 2025

July 10 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Country Concert 2025

30 SUPERSTARS - GREAT CAMPING The Midwest's Premier Country Music Festival started more than 40 years ago and is still...

$155 – $436
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Recurring

Art Start Pre-School Storytime

July 10 @ 11:30 am - 12:15 pm Recurring

Art Start Pre-School Storytime

Art Start Pre-School Storytime 2nd Thursday of the month 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Rosewood Arts Center 2655 Olson Dr....

Free
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

Open Coworking

July 10 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

Open Coworking

Join us in The Hub for open co-working from 12pm to 5pm. Ever wonder how The Hub could work for...

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Launch Pad

July 10 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Launch Pad

Meet the people you need to move your business forward This monthly LaunchPad event series brings you opportunities to expand...

Free
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Ermal’s Hefeweizen Launch

July 10 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Ermal’s Hefeweizen Launch

Ermal's Hefeweizen Returns Thursday, July 10th!  Back on tap & in 6pks - this classic wheat beer is brewed true...

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

National Shark Week Movie: Jaws

July 10 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

National Shark Week Movie: Jaws

Drop in for a special "Shark Week" movie to help promote education and interest in shark and oceanic research. Join...

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

July 10 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

The Lebanon Farmers Market is open 4 pm to 7 pm every Thursday mid-May through mid-October.  We are located in...

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Grapes & Groves

July 10 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Grapes & Groves

Join us every Thursday to Taste Wine at your own pace. Each Thursday we will have one of our highly...

+ 12 More
9:00 am

Birdies and Bogeys for Breast Wishes

July 11 @ 9:00 am

Birdies and Bogeys for Breast Wishes

Join us for the Breast Wishes Foundation Golf Outing and tee up FORE a day of fun, giving back, and...

$125
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

July 11 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

Cruise In at the Roadhouse is taking place at Rip Rap Roadhouse, which is located at 6024 Rip Rap Rd. in Huber Heights....

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The Great Dayton Food Truck Rally- 50 Trucks

July 11 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The Great Dayton Food Truck Rally- 50 Trucks

We are excited to announce the biggest food truck rally Downtown Dayton has ever seen over a two day period!...

6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

July 11 @ 6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

Winner of 47 International Awards! Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and special powers. She's unloved by...

$39 – $79
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Wire-Wrapped Succulents: a Two-Part Workshop with Jenn & Shanon Queen

July 11 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Wire-Wrapped Succulents: a Two-Part Workshop with Jenn & Shanon Queen

Join us for a creative two-day workshop where you’ll learn the art of wire wrapping while crafting a charming wire-wrapped...

$65
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

July 11 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

Join us every Friday night at 6pm for Dayton's Best LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark at Miami Valley Sports Bar!...

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Foam Frenzy

July 11 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Foam Frenzy

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of bubbly fun! Foam Frenzy is coming to Wilson Park this summer—and you’re invited...

Free
7:00 pm Recurring

Candlelight Reading Night

July 11 @ 7:00 pm Recurring

Candlelight Reading Night

Candlelight Reading Nights is a cozy, intentional space for BIPOC & Queer community to gather and read together. Bring your...

+ 9 More
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Dragons 5K

July 12 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Dragons 5K

The 2025 Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates hits the heart of Water Street District on Saturday, July 12, 2025....

$20 – $40
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

July 12 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

For over 20 years this market has been made up of a hardworking group of men, women and children, dedicated...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2025 Dragons 5K

July 12 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2025 Dragons 5K

Registration will open March 3, 2025, but if you participated in last year's race, check out your photos and learn...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2nd Annual Lebanon Pride Festiva

July 12 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2nd Annual Lebanon Pride Festiva

Join us for the second ever PRIDE Celebration happening in Downtown Lebanon, Ohio! Come have a fabulous day of vendors,...

8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

July 12 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

Join us every Saturday through Sept 13, 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. for local products including fresh produce, honey/jams, and...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

July 12 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

The 2025 Oakwood Farmers’ Market will be held Saturdays, June 7th thru October 11th, from 9 am until 12pm. The...

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

July 12 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

The outdoor Farmers Market on Indian Ripple Rd. in Beavercreek runs Saturdays, 9-1 even during the winter months. Check out...

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

July 12 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

The farmers’ market is located on the corner of Main St. & Philadelphia Dr, in the parking lot of Shiloh...

+ 25 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Christmas in July Half Marathon & 5K Dayton

July 13 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Christmas in July Half Marathon & 5K Dayton

Ho Ho Ho, Oh What Fun it is to Run in the Sun (and Shade) and Earn Some Chillin’ Hawaiian Summer...

$39.99 – $79.99
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Locking Up Otis

July 13 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Locking Up Otis

Ready for some Wright Station live music? Here we go!  The Classic rock of Locking Up Otis kicks off our...

Free
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

July 13 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

Downtown Troy Farmers' Market will run Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm from June 22nd, 2013 through September 21st,...

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Dayton Summer Wedding Expo

July 13 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Dayton Summer Wedding Expo

FREE ADMISSION, Reservations Required. Show only vendor discounts and specials Every couple receives a gift card for Free wedding rings....

Free
11:00 am - 6:00 pm

DAYTON MAC N’ CHEESE FEST 2025

July 13 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

DAYTON MAC N’ CHEESE FEST 2025

Join us for a ton of incredible mac n' cheese and more all from some amazing food trucks at The...

Free
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Porsche and Packards

July 13 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Porsche and Packards

Two great collector car icons meet! America's Packard Museum, for the very first time, is hosting Porsche and Packards sponsored...

Free
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Pencils and Prompts: Drawing Basics

July 13 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Pencils and Prompts: Drawing Basics

Pencil and Prompts: Drawing Basics Sharpen up your sketching skills with a local artist providing you insights and inspirations into...

$30
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Tomato Workshop

July 13 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Tomato Workshop

Watering, pruning, staking, pinching and fertilizing are all part of getting the perfect tomato crop. We'll discuss these and more...

$20
+ 7 More
View Calendar

Join the Dayton937 Newsletter!

Trust us with your email address and we'll send you our most important updates!
Email:  
For Email Marketing you can trust
Back to Top

Copyright © 2025 Dayton Most Metro · Terms & Conditions · Log in