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MICMACS is Fantastic – But Only Through Thursday at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone,

AMELIE was a huge hit for us…and audiences adored it. If you were a fan, don’t miss MICMACS – now playing – but only through Thursday.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the briliant mind behind the truly charming MICMACS…and he’s also responsible for AMELIE, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, and DELICATESSEN.

Some friends of mine couldn’t decided which film to see this weekend, so I highly recommended MICMACS…and they were delighted.  They loved the film!

Synopsis for MICMACS: “First, it was a mine that exploded in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Years later, it was a stray bullet that lodged in his brain… Bazil (Dany Boon) doesn’t have much luck with weapons. The first made him an orphan, the second holds him on the brink of sudden and instant death.
Released from the hospital, Bazil is homeless. Luckily, our inspired and gentle-natured dreamer is adopted by a motley crew of secondhand dealers living in a veritable Ali Baba’s cave, whose talents and aspirations are as surprising as they are diverse…One day, walking by two huge buildings, Bazil recognizes the logos of the weapons manufacturers that caused his hardship. With the help of his faithful gang of wacky friends he sets out to get revenge. A gang of underdogs battling heartless industrial giants, they relive the battle of David and Goliath, with all the imagination and fantasy of Buster Keaton.” (taken from movieweb.com)

CYRUS performed well last weekend. Though a bit more serious in tone than anticipated, audiences are liking it.

I’m delighted to announce that the Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival is swinging into action for its 5th year! Mark your calendars for September 24-26. The opening night film will be I KILLED MY MOTHER (an absolutely incredible film that has won awards and garnered high praise from numerous film festivals…from Cannes to Toronto to Frameline) – and you absolutely can’t miss it on the big screen. The full line-up will be available soon. If you know someone who would like to sponsor the festival (either through a business or personally), please get in touch with me right away.

Don’t forget THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. We’d love to have opening weekend be a huge success. It opens Friday, July 30. Please spread the word!!

Take care & see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Sunday, July 25 – Thursday, July 29:

CYRUS (R) 92 Minutes
Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

MICMACS (R) 105 Minutes
Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45

COMING SOON:

July 30 THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
July 30 WINTER’S BONE
Aug. 13 JOAN RIVERS – A PIECE OF WORK
Aug. 20 THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
Aug. 20 COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY
Aug. 27 GET LOW
Sept. 10 FAREWELL
Sept. 17 ANIMAL KINGDOM
Sept. 24 WILD GRASS
Oct. 8 LEBANON
Oct. 15 A WOMAN, A MAN & A NOODLE SHOP

Dayton Celtic Festival 2010 With Scythian

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And Interview With Scythian

Once again, the sounds of fiddles, pipes and step dancing will echo out over Riverscape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) as the United Irish of Dayton present the 9th Annual Dayton Celtic Festival on July 30th, 31st and August 1st. The festival, as always, will offer an eclectic collection of music, crafts, demonstrations and displays celebrating everything Celtic.

One of the bands that will be performing is the epitome of eclectic. Known simply as Scythian, the bands has created a unique blend with their Ukrainian and Middle Eastern Heritage with their love of Celtic music to conjure up a sound that is as singularly seamlessly as it is effortlessly energetic. They have quickly become road veterans on the Celtic circuit (having played at the last three Dayton Celtic Festivals alone), but they are also enjoying a rather large crossover popularity at the various bluegrass, Americana and grassroots styled festivals.

I was able to speak at length with one of the founding members of the band, Danylo Fedoryka, and what follows is our unedited conversation about the progression of their music, their influences and their current projects.

J.T.: Well, I guess the first thing is is how you all came up with the whole Ukrainian slant to your music?
Dan: Oh! My brother and I kind of started the band and our parents both immigrated from the Ukraine during World War II. It was just sort of a progression. We started playing mostly Celtic music, but then we had this music that we grew up with and we wanted to start playing some of our heritage and so we kind of came up with this mix.

J.T.: You know, the thing is, I listened to a lot of your stuff and there were some that had an almost total Ukrainian/Gypsy sound to it, then there were other things that you had that was Celtic music, but the back beat had that Gypsy flavor to it.
Dan: Yeah! Or, also, Middle Eastern because our drummer, his dad is from Jordan. I really think that the Celtic music lends itself really well to Middle Eastern drums. They have the same rhythms. So do African beats, like 6/8 time…the Irish jigs are in the same rhythm as the African tribal beats. They actually say that in Ireland, the Egyptian monks came over and things like the Celtic cross and those symbols are actually Coptic, which is Egyptian. The bagpipes also originated elsewhere as well, in the Middle East, so it seems somewhere, way, way back, those cultures immigrated from wherever they were from and influenced the Irish culture and tradition. It’s kind of cool to play the Ukrainian music with the Celtic music because there is almost a natural fit, going towards the East.

J.T.: I have to admit that I was really surprised by it too. When I read that it was Celtic music with a Ukrainian flavor, I was like, ‘Oh no…this is going to be horrific. I mean, there are a couple of Slavic influenced bands out there that have moshed their own traditional sound with something that God never intended and it comes out sounding like cats being strangled.
Dan: Yeah! (laughing) There have definitely been some failed attempts, or it can come across as cheesy or contrived.

J.T.: Well, like I said, this seemed to lend itself really well to create a great blending.
Dan: Well, I think that one of the reasons that we are attracted to Celtic music is that the stuff resonated with the things that we grew up with, because the Ukrainians are somewhat like the Irish in a lot of respects. They were the peasants of that part of the world. They were farmers whose main staple was the potato and they were oppressed throughout most of their history. I guess we just find a lot of commonalities between our cultural traditions and the Celtic traditions and culture. Because of the musical selections that we pick in the Celtic genre that we try and bring back into our Ukrainian influences, it meshes very well. It’s not like we say, ‘Well I want to make Whiskey In A Jar Slavic.’ It’s just not going to work.

J.T.: Well, certain elements could lend themselves to another treatment of sorts. It’s kind of like Béla Fleck: he’s pulled off some stuff within the bluegrass genre that is just amazing. I mean, when you hear it described, you’re like, ‘Okay, a banjo with African tribal rhythms? Um, no.’ But then you hear it and it’s absolutely seamless.
Dan: Yeah! It’s very interesting that, as a musician, I tend to be a little bit skeptical, and then once it goes down, it sounds awesome. We were in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and afterward, there was an after party and there was a guy who was from India. He played in an Irish band called Corned Beef and Curry and so we were playing and he was playing some stuff and so I was like, ‘Hey! Can we play something from India?’ and so he was like, ‘Okay, cool.’ He said, ‘Start playing one of your Irish songs.’ we started playing one of our songs called Drums of Belfast in the key of D Minor and he just laid down these ridiculous Indian melodies over this Celtic song. It just sounded off the chain. But before he started playing, I said, ‘I don’t know if this is going to work,’ but it ended up being dynamite and I just love those moments where you go, ‘Oh my Gosh! This really does work!’

J.T.: So how have you guys been accepted on the Celtic circuit?
Dan: Well, at first, there was a lot of skepticism about us, but people liked our energy, but they didn’t know if this whole ‘eclectic’ thing would work. So, our first year, we only ended up with like three or festivals interested in us, but after that, I think it really resonated a lot, especially since we really try and incorporate the crowd into it. My grandmother, she’s still living and she’s one hundred years old and she used to tell us that every three or four months, a fiddler would come to her village and when that happened, everything stopped, everyone finished work and went into a bar and the fiddler would play for like five or six hours straight and everyone would just dance. It was their only opportunity to let off steam. My brother and I just loved that imagery of just a fiddler coming in and having a hoedown and enabling that and so I think our vibe, even though we had a vibe of a communal entity, there is something separate from that which I think the Irish festivals capture and that I think happened in Ireland where they would have sessions and people would get up and dance. About fifty to sixty percent of our music is still Celtic, or Celtic based, so it wasn’t like we weren’t Celtic at all, but I think, after the first year, word caught on, which is great. This year we were at the Milwaukee Irish Fest for the fourth straight year and we’re going to be in Dayton for the third straight year and I think we are going to be expanding a little bit. When you get asked back, it’s just a real good feeling to know that people really value what they were, at first, a little skeptical about. They value it somewhat like a flavor, a break from straight out Celtic music all weekend long, so people can feel some of the other influences out there. It’s been fun as the appreciation grows.

J.T.: Well, one of my things has been that there should be someone in there that crosses over different lines to cater to those who may have a preconceived notion of what, say, Celtic music is, so this different aspect draws them in and they are then able to explore the more ‘purer’ forms of the genre.
Dan: Yeah! The cross-pollination. See, to me, that’s forward thinking and that is how festivals will grow.

J.T.: Yeah, if you have the same groups year after year with the same sound, it can become tedious, and that would be counterproductive in growing a festival.
Dan: Well, Bill Russell over at the Dayton Celtic Festival has done a great job bringing in bands that are cutting edge. He had brought in Slide for a couple of years and, in my mind, they are the best traditional band on the circuit. If you like traditional Irish music, I would say that there is no one better than that band for that.

J.T.: Well, even when you’re talking about the Chieftains, who most would consider the ‘old guard’ of Celtic music, they have never really be what you would call ‘traditional.’ They have dipped into many different genres. Their last recording had a South American influence. Long story short, there were regiments of Irish soldiers fighting the Mexican-American War and a lot of them deserted into South America, so there are pockets of ‘traditional’ South American music that is heavily influenced by the Celtic music.
Dan: Ah, interesting.

J.T.: Well, the Irish immigrants were basically conscripted into the military. America said, ‘If you run down here and fight our war, we’ll let you into the country,’ but most Irishmen couldn’t bring themselves to fight fellow Catholics, so they deserted. But the music, it’s still part of the Celtic heritage, just like bluegrass is. I guess I just have a problem with that purist mentality. It has it’s place for preservation, but music is a living entity.
Dan: Yeah, we grew up with that. We’re classically trained. Our mom went to Julliard and she was very into only classical music, and so that is what we were trying to get away from. When we started and we came across some of those attitudes, it really rubbed us the wrong way. There’s a living tradition, I think, and the people like The Chieftains will step outside of their comfort zone. I think that is what all art is. You should never be finished.

J.T.: Yeah, you become complacent and stagnant. Where do you guys see yourselves going from this point in time?
Dan: Well, we’re kind of positioned pretty interestingly, like we’ve somehow manged to span across a lot of different circuits. There is a certain ‘what is it?’ quality to our identity. People can’t really pigeonhole us, so we find ourselves doing really, really well in the more grassroots circuits. We get incredible responses at those festivals. We’re biggest in the Celtic circuits I think, but we’re not too far behind that on those grassroots circuits. We have also found ourselves in the bluegrass circuits. We’ve been at MerleFest, which is in North Carolina.

J.T.: There’s a lot of stuff coming out of North Carolina.
Dan: You know, North Carolina is a really awesome state for us because there are a lot of Scottish people there and a lot of Celtic people who live in the mountains and who are really into bluegrass, so like when we play our Celtic stuff, they just go nuts. It’s really a powerful state for us. MerleFest has been really good for us, to open us up to a different realm in terms of Americana and bluegrass. Think that this summer is going to a really big one for us, because last year, even though we did a lot of festivals, this year I think we feel a little bit more comfortable and established. We spent like six weeks in the studio recording our next album and it’s all original and it will be nice coming out of that because, you know, you just become that much tighter when you do that. We have new product, like we have a new live CD and a new DVD. This is our first ever live DVD and we’ve been waiting years to get it done and we finally completed it. My brother and I just did a children’s album…

J.T.: Oh that would be cool.
Dan: Yeah! It’s just been something that…we have a bunch of nephews and nieces…we actually have like twenty-five nephews and nieces…

J.T.: Jesus!
Dan: Yeah! I know! And we have to entertain them, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we just put this down on an album?’ so we kind of wrote it for them. It was just nice for us…if you’re just doing one thing all the time, and treating everything like it’s just a source of money, then it isn’t art anymore. It’s been really satisfying for us to just dabble in a lot of different things. I just see this summer is going to be a big summer for us, being like, ‘Okay, we’ve arrived’ and I think our show is always getting better and it’s a pretty powerful show now. We’re kind of looking to bring in some supplemental performers for certain shows to just have some fun. When you go into the studio, your songs take different shapes, so we’re like, ‘Well, let’s bring that onto the road with us.’ It’s not going to be every show, but like my sister played cello on the album and I want to get her out for some festivals. I think she’s going to be at the Dayton one. It’s just going to be fun for us to see how we mature into a band that is comfortable using guest performers and can incorporate other elements to make a bigger sound.

J.T.: Yeah, and it keeps everyone on their toes.
Dan: Yeah, and for those who have seen us over the years, it’s going to be like, ‘Oh! This is something new!’

J.T.: Well, the live stuff I’ve seen from you guys, it seems like interacting with the crowd seems to be a big, integral part of the performance.
Dan: Definitely! For us it’s just like…I can go watch a virtuosic performer, but I find myself getting bored. I want to have some kind of interaction with that person. Ultimately I feel like it’s the Emperor’s New Clothes, where people are saying, ‘It’s so amazing! It’s so Amazing!’ but if you really stop, you’re like, ‘No, it’s boring.’ People want to have that interaction, they want variety. I was talking to our engineer at the studio and we were trying to discuss the length of the album ad he said, ‘I highly recommend, so not go longer than forty-three minutes…’

J.T.: Well, that’s rather specific.
Dan: Yeah! He said that it is the longest that the human mind can really focus if you don;t have any visual cues. It was interesting listening to his philosophy on that. We feel really strongly about that. We customize every set list. We show up and get a feel for the venue and then we sit down and we really stress mixing up instrumentals, the vocals and what genres would appeal to this specific audience. I guess you can say it’s almost like ADD.

J.T.: Well, I guess that’s kind of the way everything is now.
Dan: Yeah, but I think there are times for everything, like it would be fun to do something completely out of the ordinary, like an acoustic set or with mellow music, because you don’t want to be pigeonholed, like this is all you can do, so it will be like you show up at a show and you’re like, ‘Man, I wasn’t expecting this!’ I think there needs to be a magnanimity of spirit. I think that’s the key for performers that they need to give of themselves on stage and it’s amazing, as far as classical logic goes, the crowd can sense in an instant if you’re being egotistical or insincere. It’s amazing how quickly you can lose a crowd in the span of a second. They could have been right there with you and then, all of a sudden, you just left them behind because they’re sensing that they’re not the focal point anymore.

J.T.: Yeah, that cuts across any type of entertainment.
Dan: Yeah, that’s been really interesting, learning the psychology of crowds. That’s one of the things that’s kind of nice about all these festivals…I’m not going to label the people that put these festivals on. They are just a bunch of independent people who are in the same boat as us and there’s kind of a hunger, but there’s also a kind of approachability that people have to these artists and I rarely run into people that have egos on these circuits, and that’s nice.

J.T.: Well, another good thing about the festival circuits are the influences that you can run into. You’re not in a vacuum.
Joe: Yeah, you especially see it on like the grassroots festivals. There’s tons of that going on because people really like to sit in with other people. We actually had a guy that sat in with us at one festival. He is a banjo player and a great banjo player at that. He was like, ‘Hey! I want to sit in with you guys.’ so we were like okay, we’ll pick a couple of songs and all of a sudden, we’re like, ‘Oh my Gosh! This is brilliant!’ and we got stretched because of that. At the Celtic festivals, there’s the after parties where everyone jams all night long. It really is a great oasis for musicians.

J.T.: Uh-oh…I just got an email from your publicist saying that she left a message for Mike to track you down so you will call me.
Dan: (Laughing) Yeah! They’re on me!

J.T.: Yeah, when you said your producer told you that forty-three minutes is the longest a person can pay attention to something, I automatically flashed on Amadeus…do you remember that movie?
Dan: I love that movie!

J.T.: When they were telling Amadeus he would have to cut out parts from his masterpiece because, ‘there are too many notes for the royal ear.’
Dan: (Laughing) That’s great…’for the royal ear’…I have to remember that.

J.T.: Well, is there anything that you want out there that I haven’t already asked?
Dan: Well, there is one thing, if you can mention it, is that we’re excited about touring the Midwest for the next month and that we’re coming back to Dayton with brand new product, the live album Vol. II and the live DVD that we just released and the kid’s album and that we’re just coming out of six weeks in the studio, so we’re really taken what we’ve learned in the studio and we plan to hit the road running.

You can catch Scythian performing live at the Dayton Celtic Festival on the WDTN Stage on Friday, July 30th at 10 pm, Saturday July 31st at 2:20 pm and Sunday August 1st at 1:40 pm. They will also be seen on the Guinness Stage on Saturday at 8:00 pm. For more information about Scythian, go to their website, which has their whole history and their current projects, tour dates, pictures and a collection of their music. For more information about the upcoming Celtic Festival, go to the United Irish of Dayton’s website for a list of scheduled events and musicians slated to perform.

Arts Reviews (by people who don’t know any better)

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Want to know if you can wear jeans to the latest show?  Interested if parking is readily available at local venues?  Do you want the scoop from a regular audience member?  Here’s the latest “First-Person Review” from JumpstART.  This time – a few jumpers checked out ETC’s {Title of Show} and two of them are sharing their conversational thoughts.  Check out the review, and become a fan of JumpstART on Facebook for more info.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/notes/jumpstart/review-etcs-title-of-show/447812694852

{Title of Show} ran one weekend only and has already closed.  Next up from ETC: Next Thing You Know

Visit the Arts Calendar to see what’s happening NOW with other arts around the region.

The Future(Fest) is Here

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FutureFest '09 - CARVE - The Dayton PlayhouseFutureFest 2010

THE DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

One of the biggest theatre weekends of the year is about to descend upon the Dayton-region, and 2010 marks an important milestone.  FutureFest, the annual new works festival at The Dayton Playhouse is celebrating it’s twentieth year and festival organizers can’t be more excited!

Every year writers from across the country, and from several other countries as well, submit their previously unproduced scripts for consideration.  This year over 390 new works  were submitted in hopes of being one of the famed “top six” to be presented at FutureFest 2010 from July 23rd to the 25th.
FutureFest 2009 - AdjudicationFor those who are new to FutureFest, it’s almost an unbelievable experience.  In one weekend the Dayton Playhouse mounts six different productions.  Each with a different director, cast, scenery, and technical aspects.  Following each show a panel of professional theatre folk, flown in from across the country, take to the stage with the author, director, and cast to adjudicate the show right in front of the audience.  They give the author feedback about their script and direct them in ways to make improvements that will get them closer to being published.
Several scripts from the Dayton Playhouse’s FutureFest have made it on to be published.
One has even appeared on Broadway and is now being made into a movie starring Jake Gyllenhall.
This year’s FutureFest productions are:
  • An Uncommon Language by Evan Guilford-Blake
  • Dancing Backwards by John Fiorillo
  • How It Works by Cary Pepper
  • The Judicial Murder of Mrs. Surratt by Rich Amada
  • Refuge by Marc Kornblatt
  • Short Story Long by Joel Fishbane
(synopsis for each play can be found at the end of this article)
Tickets are still available for this weekends FutureFest and may be purchased by calling the Dayton Playhouse Box Office at 937-424-8477 or online at daytonplayhouse.org.

Peter Filichia - A Personal History of the American Theater

Peter Filichia

A Personal History of the American Theatre

by Peter Filichia at THE DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

So, what’s it like to be a theater critic? Is it really fun to attend the theater night after night after night after night? Ask Peter Filichia, who has been attending theater consistently for the last half-century and has been a reviewer for more than half that time.

Filichia has seen theater in 42 states and 14 foreign countries and has managed to see as many as 365 stage shows in a single year. He will, God willing, soon see his 10,000th stage show.

One of those was Spaulding Gray’s one-man show, A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER. Gray simply sat at a table and held a bunch of oversized index cards. He pulled out a card at random and would tell a story based on the title of the show printed on that card.

Gray died in 2004. Filichia reasoned that the show should not go with him – but should go on. And so, he’s created his own version of A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER. He’s got quite a few index cards from which to choose.

Each performance of A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER is, of course, different. An audience might hear about Filichia’s adventures with a nice celebrity (Jerry Orbach), a not-so-nice one (Mary Tyler Moore), or one who turned out to be a little sneaky (Steve Allen). What’s it like to face Ben Vereen shortly after you’ve written a negative review about his performance? How did Filichia feel after he put his foot in his mouth when dealing with James Earl Jones?

There are stories about memorable audience members, ranging from Richard Rodgers’ daughter Mary to the black man and old white woman who buttressed Filichia at The Wiz. Filichia also goes back to when he began theatergoing as a teen, and how many a play changed his life, be it as serious as A Raisin in the Sun or even as frivolous as Damn Yankees. There’s a poignant story about the time Filichia took Yugoslavians to a musical, as well as funny ones involving community theater disasters.

It’s all in the cards – and the story-telling. Filichia has performed A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER in points north (New York State), south (Miami), east (Boston), and west (Aspen, Colorado). Because of the very nature of the show, it can be as long or as short as a presenting house demands. Afterwards, Filichia is glad to take questions from the audience.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

FutureFest (July 23-25) visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com/ (937) 424-8477 (tickets are availble for each individual play…see below for a synopsis of each play)

A Personal History of the American Theater by Peter Filichia (July 22) visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com/ (937) 424-8477

Would you like to submit theater news for Dayton Most Metro’s onStageDayton features?  Email Shane & Dave at [email protected]

FutureFest 2010 Plays

Dancing Backwards – John Fiorillo (Fully Staged) – 8pm Fri. 07/23

This is a story about the choices we make between loyalty and ambition or independence and accepting help.  Victor Belkin, a famous dancer, is worried about his friend Robert, an elderly Yankee widower. He asks Robert to share his home, although his lifestyle and Robert’s couldn’t be more different. Robert rejects Viktor’s offer. He has a secret, as well as a plan to escape. However, the situation gets out of hand as it turns from amusing to life threatening.

How It Works – Cary Pepper (Staged Reading) – 10am Sat. 07/24

HOW IT WORKS explores the issues of success, power, fame, recognition, compromise, integrity and personal satisfaction in the world of art.  How do you handle The Struggle? How do you maintain personal integrity as a person and an artist? What happens when you’re given one of the most prestigious awards in the world, but you yearn for a “smaller” award the public knows nothing about?

An Uncommon Language – Evan Guilford-Blake (Staged Reading) – 3pm Sat. 07/24

An Uncommon Language examines the repression of women and the nature of madness. Set in England in 1906, the play explores the life of HÉLOISE LACASSE, an untrained but passionate and talented sculptor, who chooses to subjugate her prowess to benefit JOHN BATISTE, her lover, the self-described enfant terrible of English sculpture.  Silently, she crafts heads for his statuary. Héloise has a history of free-spirited behavior, which, ultimately, John interprets as madness and has her institutionalized — where she is forbidden access to her sculpture.

Refuge – Marc Kornblatt (Fully Staged) – 8pm Sat. 07/24

Two men meet on a secluded boardwalk along a marsh in a bird sanctuary in the Midwest.  Jim brings a notepad and a gun.  Laz brings a pile of pills and a six-pack of beer.  By the end of their first encounter, the pills are consumed and the gun goes off.  Both men live.  Jim and Laz meet again and again in the same place to argue, cajole, circle and embrace in a somber and funny dance of death that also draws Jim’s burdened wife and Laz’s yearning girlfriend to the marsh to find refuge and renewal.

The Judicial Murder of Mrs. Surratt – Rich Amada (Staged Reading) – 10am Sun. 07/25

Based on true events, the play follows the story of Mary Surratt, the first woman judicially executed by the U.S. government.  It was Mrs. Surratt’s boardinghouse where John Wilkes Booth and others are said to have plotted the assassination of President Lincoln.  By charging her, the government hoped to flush out her fugitive son, an alleged key conspirator.  On trial, Mrs. Surratt faced the gallows in what was 19th Century America’s trial of the century.

Short Story Long – Joel Fishbane (Fully Staged) – 3pm Sun. 07/25

After famed author Lincoln Kennedy dies, he bequeaths his money to his wife and his writing to his former girlfriend.  His wife, Julianne, refuses to obey her husband’s wishes until she can determine the reasons behind them.  Amalthea is equally confused, she has not seen Lincoln in years.  Together, the women work to unravel the mystery, slowly forging a tentative peace that is threatened once Lincoln’s true motivations are finally revealed.

YP Spotlight: Getting Butts in the Seats for Arts

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Encore Theatre Company presented RENT this summer to sold out crowds.

Dayton has a really eclectic arts scene (kudos to Ron Rollins for encapsulating it so well in his final Culture Clash).  There are fantastic professional and community arts opportunities available every weekend all across the region.   Dayton has been ranked number one for arts and culture among mid-sized cities AND is in the top 20 cultural bargains for high-quality arts at low prices (Cities Ranked and Rated, 2007).  We have unique opportunities that put the region on the national stage (besides Kent from SYTYCD) and people from outside Dayton are sometimes more aware of the quality of art produced here than we are.  Just consider this article by a NY critic on the Dayton Playhouse FutureFest or this one on the prestigious Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Unfortunately, many locals may not appreciate the regional arts scene as much as outsiders do.  And this is a thorn in the side of local arts marketing directors who are trying to share quality arts with the community.  This problem is compounded when these same marketing directors look out into the sea of grey hair in the audiences and know that their most ardent supporters are aging.   The National Endowment for the Arts released a study last year highlighting that audiences for live arts experiences are getting older (while the numbers of attendees continue to decline).  They posit, “Aging audiences are a long-term trend. Performing arts attendees are increasingly older than the average U.S. adult (45). The aging of the baby boom generation does not appear to account for the overall increase in age.”

So – if the problem is that young people don’t go out to the arts enough, I want to know what DOES get YPs to arts events.  Taking a very unscientific poll (asking people I know), I learned there are a lot of different reasons people hit the town for some arts:

  • Elizabeth Farley, 30-something YP who lives at the Greene and works at Eastway Behavioral Healthcare, heads out for a night of arts as a reason to get dressed up, have a big night out with the boyfriend, and because she grew up appreciating the classical arts.  She recommends the DPO for conductor Neal Gittleman’s conversational insights and the Dayton Art Institute for its extensive collection.
  • Mark Hepp, 30-ish YP living in Belmont and working at the Base, explores the arts because he likes the personal aspects of live entertainment.  He enjoys the “unpolished and uniqueness of the local arts” versus commercial main stream entertainment.  He points out that he’s gone to some shows and exhibits that were not to his liking, but those experiences gave him more appreciation for the events he does like.  His favorite spots include the Schuster Center & Wiley’s Comedy Club.
  • Frank Sawyer, 20-ish Centerville resident who works for Premier Health Partners, enjoys the arts as a way to network with individuals from various walks of life.  He says, “The beauty is that you get to be surrounded by a full cross section of the Dayton community.”  He always tries to hit Urban Nights and the various holiday celebrations.  He asks, “What better way to get in the holiday spirit?”
  • Kristen Kaltenstein, 20-something Standard Register employee who lives Dayton, goes to the arts because she’s “always looking for something new.”  For her, the arts in Dayton provide the entertainment and substance that keep nights interesting.  She names the annual CityFolk Festival as one of her favorite events each year.

So there are obviously a LOT of different reasons and tastes among 20- and 30-somethings in our region.  Who’s going to reach out to them all?  There are two groups trying: Dayton Ballet Barre and JumpstART.

Dayton Ballet (Photo: Andy Snow)

The Dayton Ballet Barre is for you if you are under 45 and interested in great ballet and fun social opportunities.  (This group wins the prize for my favorite YP use of homophone.) I spoke to Jim Butler, the President of the Associate Board for some insights into what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and the value they are providing to their members and the region.  With multiple levels of involvement/membership available – you can be a member of the Barre for purely social activities ($50 membership fee) or join the Dayton Ballet Associate Board if you have a little time to volunteer to this great cause.   And I mean a *little* time – If you can give a couple hours a year, they’ll take your help.   Butler emphasizes that “you can be as involved as your schedule allows.”  (NOTE: There are lots of different levels of involvement with this group, but for the sake of this story, I’ll refer to everything as the Barre.  Check out their Web site for more info.)

The Barre was created specifically to support the Dayton Ballet – the second oldest ballet company in the country.  A quick look at the Web site taught me that the Dayton Ballet is “one of the top three dance companies in the nation that produces and presents new work, and the only dance company to establish a fund designated specifically to create a new full-length 21st Century ballet.”  Some serious national attention, the creation of new works, and some ridiculously talented young performers should lead to a lot of YP audience members, right?  Wrong.  But the Barre is working to change that.

Butler was asked to join the Barre in 2006 by a friend; over time he was asked to join the Associate Board.  He believes that the Barre wasn’t really “getting the job done” because they weren’t getting more people out to experience the Dayton Ballet.  These YPs took their mission seriously, and gave themselves the charge to make a real difference by coming up with a specific plan.

The Ballet Barre Nutcracker Ball is a popular yearly event.

The Barre now utilizes a “gradual exposure” strategy to get attention for the Ballet through non-ballet events.  A look at the monthly YP round-ups will show you that they host Barre Crawls through the Oregon District, family picnics (kid-friendly!), volunteer opportunities, fashion shows and more.  Two of their largest yearly events include the upcoming British Bash in August and “Cocktails with Santa” in conjunction with the December performance of The Nutcracker.  Butler acknowledges that ballet is an acquired taste and he believes that the “initial viewing isn’t enough to ‘hook’ patrons.”  Through a very specific marketing plan which includes great social events, discounted ballet tickets, opportunities to meet the dancers and choreographers, and fun networking opportunities – they are introducing YPs to the Ballet.

Diane Shoeffler-Warren, who doubles as the PR and Marketing Managers for both Dayton Ballet and the Victoria explained the impact of the Barre.  “Young professional organizations such as the Ballet Barre, infuse a specific energy into our audiences and assist in creating arts experiences that attract a younger demographic.  Both Dayton Ballet and Victoria Theatre Association (VTA) use programming to attract younger audiences to expose them to a specific art form.  Specifically, Dayton Ballet Barre has provided an avenue for young professionals to enjoy ballet productions with friends and colleagues in a fun, social setting. The Ballet Barre also strives to create support off the stage by hosting events linked to performances such as the Sugar Plum Tea (The Nutcracker) and post-performance parties, like LOVE BITES, held after the February 2010 performance of Dracula. They are a valuable resource to Dayton Ballet.”

The Barres hopes to grow to 1000 members by June 2011 with the ambitious goal of generating a broad-based core of arts supporters to double season ticket subscriptions for the Dayton Ballet.  If you want to learn more or join the Barre – check out their membership page.

JumpstART has a similar mission, although it casts a much wider arts net – including visual arts, performance arts, theatre, dance, vocal, comedy, and more.  As the activity arm of the Culture Works Associate Board, JumpstART provides a no membership/no fee way for YPs to explore the arts through ticket deals, event packages, and social outings to experience the arts together.  Want to “join” JumpstART – you only need to like them on the Facebook page – JumpstART is all about communication, providing you with ticket deals, and hooking you into the overall arts scene.

The history of JumpstART doesn’t go back very far.  They first met in the Spring of 2009 when Culture Works determined that they wanted to get more YPs plugged into the arts scene.  That summer they launched a survey, and the results demonstrated that even though YPs give Dayton credit for a great arts scene, they weren’t attending arts events for three main reasons – lack of knowledge about events, misconceptions about the accessibility of arts events and concern over cost.  With survey results in hand, they knew what they had to do.  So, JumpstART responded with a three-tiered approach is to host events that are easy to attend, affordable, and well-publicized.  Working with the local arts groups, restaurants and bars, JumpstART puts together monthly ticket deals – called “jumps” –  to meet YPs where they are and incorporate arts into the evening.  (Example: at a recent “jump,” Boston’s Bistro and Pub provided pizza and beer and DPO offered a deeply discounted concert ticket for a total price of $10 for an after-work event.)

Some "jumpers" enjoy a night at the opera

In addition to hosting events, JumpstART is working to remove the stigma of the arts as stuffy or high-brow.  They have begun posting “first-person reviews” of arts events on their Facebook page and even at DMM.  These reviews include what people wore to the theatre, where they parked, if they got dinner before or drinks afterward, and what they generally thought about the event.  You can always read a review from a seasoned critic in the paper, but sometimes in order to feel like you belong at the event, it’s nice to know what your peers are doing.  Too often, people who haven’t been to the theatre don’t want to go b/c they don’t know what to expect.  These reviews provide the insight on what you’ll see and if it’s worth your time.

The Facebook page also alerts fans to affordable events, opportunities that may be “off-the-beaten path,” or really worthwhile shows.  They are aware that the more “formal” arts venues may not be for everyone, so they also highlight free shows, grassroots arts organizations, and the wide range of eclectic arts offerings across the region.  Many YPs may not be averse to arts experiences in general, but may be looking for more accessible opportunities highlighting young, local artists.  As a main pillar of JumpstART, they’re focused on communication and letting YPs know that there’s room for them at the arts table – whether it’s through the classical arts or newer grassroots experiences.

During the Urban Nights Jump, the first stop was DVAC

Currently, JumpstART is in the process of reformatting the organizational structure.  JumpstART steering committee member Shannon Bockelman invites more people to become “jumpers.”  Bockelman says, “We’re looking for YPs who want the opportunity to make a difference in the community through the arts.  The Associate Board is a way for people to come to four meetings a year, come to some fun events, grow their leadership skills, and make an impact on the community.”  The Steering Committee will continue to plan the “jumps,” but they are looking to grow the Associate Board to help spread the word about these opportunities.  They are sticking to their no-membership motto, so fees and attendance obligations don’t get in the way of anyone coming to JumpstART events.  But if you’re looking to become a part of the Associate Board, meet new people, and help spread the word about the arts in the region, be in touch with Claire Nerl at Culture Works.

Both JumpstART and the Ballet Barre are working toward a larger mission to get YPs engaged and active in the community.  While city planners and economic developers work on growing the region from a business and infrastructure perspective, these groups are focused on introducing the young talent in the region to our great cultural assets.  As Butler states, it’s about the quality of life; “the ultimate goal is to revitalize the community.  We choose to do it through the arts.”  Both groups are run by volunteers and provide excellent opportunities for leadership training, and both groups are currently looking for YPs interested in being involved (at any level).  Although they are two unique organizations, since they have similar missions, you’ll see joint events, collaborations, and cross-promotion coming up as they continue to build their relationship for the betterment of the arts and the region.

Upcoming Events:

Dayton Ballet Barre
July 25: Ballet Barre Picnic
August 4: Ballet Barre Meeting – These are always open for new members.
August 14: Ballet Barre British Bash
September 1: Ballet Barre Meeting
September 18: Ballet Barre – Fashion Runway Show

JumpstART
August 11: JumpstART meeting – Want to learn more?  Email [email protected]
August Jump (Date TBD): Encore Theatre Company Next Thing You Know
September 16: Jump into the DAI: Modern Masters

(DISCLOSURE: I’m the chair of the Culture Works Associate Board and help to plan many of the JumpstART events.)

Dayton Sports Weekly Upate: 7/20/2010

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Sorry for the late post today.  Yesterday was exhausting and since I have a job I have to worry about during the day (I gotta sleep sometime!), it was the earliest I could make it.  So much happening around Dayton, it’s exciting.  The summer is only half way finished but my mind is already wandering to fall.  Maybe yours will too after today.

Well, I don’t want to do this anymore than anyone wants to hear it but the Dragons are slipping further into futility by dropping another 5 games in a row this last week, with their only win being last night, and results from today not currently available at the time of this writing.  The Dragons have dropped to second to last in the Eastern Division with a win pct of just .413, making them 4th from the bottom in the entire league.  At this point it’s hard to argue exactly what it is that is going wrong for the Dragons but as I’ve mentioned in the last few weeks, it simply looks like they cannot close a game.  There are few blow outs ever suffered here, and Dayton has, at the very least remained competitive through their summer struggles, but a close loss is not a win.  Seeing them lose such close games, the Dragons could easily be in a much different position at this point.  If you take the amount of games that the Dragons have lost by just one run since the beginning of June, they would have an extra 12 wins, and be above .500.  I know that’s a lot of conjecture, but as I said before, they have not been losing in blow outs, but struggling to finish good games, many of those going into extra innings I might add.  Here is hoping they figure out how to right the ship, if only to avoid falling into the basement at this point.

Hey, a bit of exciting news for the Gems, they are plugging along nicely as the season edges closer and closer to starting. First up, they announced that they have signed a two year deal with local TV station WWRD to air up to 20 regular season Gems games over the next two years. This is going to be great opportunity for the team that seemed to struggle a bit with getting it’s name recognized by the city’s patrons. Even the Dayton Daily failed to add a Gems header to it’s sports section for all of last year. This can only bring more attention a team that by all accounts deserves it.

The CHL also finalized it’s conference alignment with the affiliated IHL, splitting into a North and South conference. (names for these conferences are expected to change.) Dayton will be playing in the North conference with the remainders of the IHL (including the newly reformed Evansville Icemen), and include the following CHL teams: Colorado Eagles, Missouri Mavericks, Rapid City Rush and Wichita Thunder. The South will include the remaining CHL teams. Dayton will officially start this upcoming season home opener on October 16th. Playoff format was also announced, with 16 of the 18 teams qualifying for the playoffs. Each team will be seeded 1-8, with #1 playing #8, #2 playing #7 etc. Conference champions will expect to have new trophies, and conference champions will play for the League title.

The Gems have also announced the return of 7 players from last season’s roster. I am not going to go into too much depth there, but you can read about them here. A good bunch of players to have back if you ask me personally, a great way to start off the team.

Lots of great stuff happening here which is good to hear. I am sure there will be plenty of news coming out of the Gem’s organization in the coming months.

oh I wanted to add this to the post, so people can see how much larger the Gem’s world has gotten this year. The divisions aren’t noted here but I found it online and thought it would be a good representation of the Gem’s new affiliate league.

The Dutch Lions are almost done for this season. Has it really been that long already?  The Summer is winding down, and the Lions stand at an unfortunate 4th place. Their trip into Canada the other week really hurt, but that hasn’t kept the good news from rolling in. This last weekend Dayton played their last home game against the Kalamazoo Outrage and decimated them with a 6-1 victory. The Lions staggeringly out shot Kzoo 29 to 5. The whole amazing thing can be read here, what a way to finish their season in Dayton!
The Lions have one more game this weekend against the Chicago Fire and a win would be a great way to go out on the season but unfortunately should not change their current standings. Some other good news, both the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC have been keeping an eye on Dutch Lions players over the last few weeks. We could have our first MLS grads before too long, a tribute to the sensible skills and play style that the DDLFC has introduced state side.

Pretty soon there won’t be much to talk about with the Lions but as the news filters in, I’ll relay what I can.

So there wasn’t anything I could really find for Wright State, not even for club teams, which I’m keeping an eye on coming up here. I’ll try to get some football and hockey info in the coming months, and hope to see some more news regarding other college sports.

I do have an overlooked schedule release for the Wright State Soccer team, which might be of some interest to those looking to extend a possible Dutch Lions fix. Although Wright State’s season last year was not as prominent as several others in their recent past, don’t under estimate the Raider’s ability, tickets are only $5.00, how can you lose?

UD’s James Vercammen has been named on the preseason Buchanan award watch list. The Buchanan Award is given to the FCS’s national defensive player of the year. Since it’s introduction as an award in 1995, 9 of 16 recipients have gone on to play for the NFL. Vercammen headed the tough Dayton defense for 2009 that finished top in the Pioneer League. Making 134 total tackles set an new PFL record for tackles in a single season, outpacing the old record by 25 tackles, and earned him the honor of third best record in the entire FCS. Vercammen finished last year as Second Team FCS All-American and First Team All-PFL.

Sorry to see the Dutch Lions season drawing to a close? The UD Flyers announced their upcoming soccer schedule which will start Friday August 20thagainst Butler at Baujan Field. The Flyers, who were Atlantic 10 champions last season will have eight matches at home during the fall, and admission is free to all regular season games at Baujan. Soccer is truly becoming a power sport in the Dayton area, and an overlooked one at that. With professional soccer finishing up it’s first season in our fair city, perhaps it’s time to give the teams that have been here for a long time the credit they deserve. You won’t be sorry you go see a match at either University but go see one at least.

Goodnight everybody, have a safe week, and even though the Dragons are the only team playing in town for the next couple of weeks, start savings those lungs too cheer on your favorites this August.

Final Days for I AM LOVE – MICMACS Opens Friday!

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Hello Everyone.

We’ve got to keep moving!

If you still need to see I AM LOVE, you shouldn’t miss it on the big screen.  Don’t wait for the dvd!  You only have through Thursday to see it at THE NEON.  Visit THE NEON for this week’s showtimes.

On Friday, we open MICMACS – the new charming & wonderful film from the brilliant mind of Jean-Pierre Jeunet…director of AMELIE, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN and A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT.  MICMACS will more than likely only play for 1 week, so make plans now for seeing it this weekend.

Click on the poster to find out more about the film (or watch the trailer below).

My full update – including a contest where you write the reviews of our films – will come later in the week.

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

Mock Turtle Seeking Submissions for Fall Zine

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Poets, writers, illustrators, lend me your ear.

Or at least your art.

Mock Turtle Zine is accepting submissions for its upcoming issue scheduled to be released in conjunction with Urban Nights Friday, Sept. 10.

Mock Turtle Zine is an independent publishing effort undertaken to give artists and authors in Dayton, Ohio, and surrounding areas a vehicle for sharing their work. The zine accepts poetry, song lyrics, fiction and nonfiction works, and visual art.

Founder Christina Dendy, who teaches creative writing at Stivers for the Arts, began printing her own poetry under the Mock Turtle name in 2005.  Subsequent collections of short stories and other writings followed, and in 2009 the booklets evolved into a full-fledged ‘zine (Mock Turtle Issue #1) featuring prose, poems and photography from additional contributors.

Mock Turtle publication print runs have ranged between 50 to 100 copies, but Dendy hopes to expand the output for the next issue.  She understands, however, assembling a team of  dedicated partners is key for the growth of the ‘zine.

“The idea is to expand contributor base and distribution,” she says. “But that requires an independent source of funding, so we have to take on local (emphasis on local) advertising. We will also be seeking additional points of distribution though we have not determined the number yet. All of this requires an increase in volunteers.”

Previous issues have featured work from local artists, including dazzling photography by Kidtee Hello, prose by writer Tiffany Shaw-Diaz and art contributions by visual artist David Kenworthy.

Send electronic submissions to [email protected] by end of day August 27. Submissions guidelines are available on the ‘zine’s website, http://mockturtlezine.weebly.com/submissions.html.

For additional information about the zine, please contact Christina Dendy at [email protected] or email Mock Turtle at [email protected].

Blue Sky Project Offers Unique Array of Arts Experiences

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The Blue Sky Project may have its home base at the University of Dayton, but the resident artists of the program are making waves throughout the Dayton community. With weekly presentations, special events,  performances and exhibits, be sure to catch a glimpse of their work while you still can!

Weekly Group Presentations:

Thursday, July 22, with Michael Casselli, 3:00 — 3:30 PM
Science Center 114 Auditorium, University of Dayton

Thursday, July 29, with Joyce Lee, 3:00 — 3:30 PM
Sears Recital Hall, University of Dayton

Sonic Spa at c{space:

Tuesdays,  July 20 and July 27, 7 PM — 9 PM
20 N. Jefferson St. between 2nd and 3rd St.

Led by Blue Sky Program Director Shaw Pong Liu, Sonic Spa is a weekly laboratory for musicians and dancers to explore collective improvisation and spatial composition.
Free and open to the public.

Check out Shaw Pong’s collaboration with Chris Erk at Therapy Cafe:

Of A River:

Thursday, July 22, 7 PM and 9 PM (each performance is 30 minutes in length)
Wintergarden at the Schuster Performing Arts Center
Free

Dancers, musicians, and flowing silk transform the Schuster Performing Arts Center’s Wintergarden in this collaboration between the Victoria Theatre Association and Blue Sky Project, featuring choreographer Rodney Veal (BSP Board Chair) and musician Shaw Pong Liu (program director). A mesmerizing performance-installation exploring time, space and water, our most endangered resource.

Final Exhibition:

Final Exhibition Preview Party
Thursday, August 5, 6:30 PM — 9:00 PM
The Armory, 201 East Sixth Street in The Oregon District
$75.00 per person

Exhibition Opening and Closing
Friday, August 6, 5:00 — 10:00 PM
Saturday, August 7, 6:00 — 10:00 PM
The Armory, 201 East Sixth Street in The Oregon District
Free

Heading out of town for vacation instead? You can still experience the work of the Blue Sky Project; two works of art from the 2009 program have been installed in the Dayton Airport. Katherine Mann’s large-scale painting, “Byzantine,” fills a wall of the terminal, while Lisa Nonken’s paper airplane sculpture, “Dayton Flight, ” is suspended in mid-air near the gates.

To learn more about the Blue Sky Project, visit the Blue Sky website or Facebook page.

CYRUS – Opens Exclusively at THE NEON on Friday!

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Hello Everyone.

We begin our run of a movie on Friday that audiences have been swarming to see all over the country…and I’m excited that we’re getting the exclusive opening of the film in Dayton. CYRUS – a film by the Duplass Brothers – stars John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei and Catherine Keener.

Synopsis for CYRUS: “Directed by mumblecore stalwarts Jay and Mark Duplass, Cyrus stars John C. Reilly as John, a middle-aged lonely divorced guy who, as the film opens, gets dragged to a party by his remarried ex-wife (Catherine Keener) — who remains his best friend. After a few clumsy, drunken passes at a variety of women, John encounters Molly (Marisa Tomei), an attractive single-mom who finds John’s social awkwardness appealing. They hit it off, and quickly begin a tender new relationship. Problems soon arise in the form of Cyrus (Jonah Hill), Molly’s twentysomething son, who has an off-puttingly close relationship to his mom. Soon the jealous Cyrus sets about trying to break them up, and John must figure out how to deal with this unhinged and unexpected rival.” (Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide)

If you still need to see HARRY BROWN or THE SQUARE, today is the last day (Thursday) to see them at THE NEON.

We’ll hold I AM LOVE – which has received interesting response from our regulars. Though some have had a luke-warm reaction to the film, others are swooning – with repeated viewings and complete admiration for everything about the film. Personally, I’m of the latter camp.
Madeline Breslin wrote me a note describing the film as “…breathtaking. Exquisite! Perfect! Searing!” and Chase Whiteside thinks “…it is brilliant.” Stuart McDowell thinks the film is “very powerful,” and I must agree!
Don’t forget about our cross-promotion with Coco’s Bistro. Plan on seeing the film the same day you have lunch/dinner at Coco’s Bistro – www.228coco.com – and you’ll save! (Click on their link to read more about the promotion.)

Our line-up is getting quite crowded over the coming weeks…so things may come and go quickly and opening dates may move around. Thanks for staying up-to-date with my weekly newsletter.

We hope to see you very soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for July 16 – July 22:

CYRUS (R) 92 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

I AM LOVE (R) 120 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
July 23 MICMACS
July 30 WINTER’S BONE
July 30 THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Aug. 13 JOAN RIVERS – A PIECE OF WORK
Aug. 20 THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
Aug. 20 COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY
Aug. 27 GET LOW
Sept. 10 FAREWELL
Sept. 17 ANIMAL KINGDOM
Sept. 24 WILD GRASS
Oct. 8 LEBANON
Oct. 15 A WOMAN, A MAN & A NOODLE SHOP

Yeah… but can it play Dayton?

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[title of show] - Encore Theater Co. - Dayton CastDayton, Ohio:  a hotbed for the development & performance of new musical theatre?

YES.

“It is a hopeless endeavour to attract people to a theatre unless they can be first brought to believe that they will never get in.” – CHARLES DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby

Musical Theatre Workshop:  Festival 2010

THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

During the 1940’s and 1950’s, American Musical Theatre was developed right in the heart of it all – Manhatten. After all, that’s where all the great theatre was happening. PLUS – it wasn’t nearly as expensive to produce a big Broadway musical as it is today. (Wicked has just recently recouped its $40 million investment and THAT’S a runaway hit). Add to that the fact that the vast majority of Broadway audiences are tourists, then you can see why so many writers of new musical theatre are hungry to test their work in an “everyman” market. After all, those are the folks buying tickets.

Events here in our city over the next two weekends suggest to me that New York writers might just begin asking themselves –“Yeah, but will it play Dayton?” Without a doubt, Dayton is becoming a new Midwestern Mecca for new musical theatre development.

Human Race Musical Theatre Workshop 2008

"The Black Crook Project" 2008

Consider this. Downtown at The Loft theatre this coming weekend, THREE new musicals will premiere. One of those – PLAY IT BY HEART – features the work of Brian Yorkey (2009 Tony-Winner for Next To Normal). Another – TENDERLY – was written by the same team that created the wildly popular GREEN GABLES that played the Victoria in 2005. And the third – being written as we speak by local students – will make its national debut – right here in Dayton (The Lovewell Project). This is coming on the heels of the stellar Human Race production of Adam Gwon’s new musical ORDINARY DAYS. There is simply no excuse not to catch one of these shows. Not to mention, the schedule for the festival weekend makes it so easy. PLUS there are opportunities to meet the creators and party with the Race.

Do yourself a favor and make time for this festival weekend.
MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP: FESTIVAL 2010 FULL SCHEDULE

Friday, July 16

8pm               Play It By Heart @ The Loft Theatre
Followed by an After-Show Reception @ The Dayton Racquet Club

Saturday, July 17

1:15pm          Meet the Play It By Heart writers @ The Loft Lobby
2pm                Play It By Heart @ The Loft Theatre
7pm               Lovewell Show @ The Loft Theatre
Followed by an After-Show Reception The Loft Lobby
8pm                Tenderly @ Creativity Center

Sunday, July 18

2pm                 Lovewell Show @ The Loft Theatre
2pm                 Tenderly @ Creativity Center
6:15pm           Meet the Tenderly writers Creativity Center
7pm                 Tenderly @ Creativity Center
Followed by a Wrap-Up Party @ a Location TBA

Synopses:

Play it By Heart tells the story of a female country music star battling her family and a changing industry. Taylor, who penned such hits as Tammy Wynette’s “Another Chance” and Johnny Cash’s “The Baron,” calls it “the quintessential story of family in country music.”

Tenderly is about a real musical legend, one of the most famous entertainers ever to come out of the Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky region, Rosemary Clooney. The show includes such Clooney hits as “Come On-a My House,” “Mambo Italiano” and “Hey There.”

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

Musical Theatre Workshop: Festival 2010 (July 16-18) will be celebrated at both the 219-seat Loft Theatre at 126 N. Main St. and the approximately 60-seat Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center at 116 N. Jefferson St. Tickets ($15 per performance) are available at the door. Visit http://www.humanracetheatre.org for more information.

If we seem to have a particular passion for developing NEW and innovative work, it because we do! After all, the same weekend as the MTW Festival at the Loft, Encore Theater Company is presenting local premiere of the 2009 Tony-Nominated musical [title of show] – trust me – a comedy like no other!

DB

[title of show]

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

What do you get when you gather four friends, four chairs, a keyboard, some monkeys, vampires, drag queens and a fresh batch of rice crispy treats?  Why [title of show] of course!

How do you explain a show that has an ingredient list like that?  How about “a show that really [BEEEEEEP]’ing ROCKS!”

Shawn Hooks as "Jeff" in [title of show] - Dayton, Ohio But really, all poor grammar aside, this show really does ROCK!  Just ask Dayton native Susan Blackwell, an original cast member of the Broadway, Off-Broadway and New York Musical Theater Festival productions of the little show that could. Not only was Ms. Blackwell an original cast member…she is also a character in the show.

Angele' Price as "Susan" in [title of show] - Dayton, OhioConfused? Don’t be, here’s the premise-[title of show] is a hilarious new musical written by 2 struggling writers about 2 struggling writers writing a hilarious new musical. word.  Essentially, art imitating life imitating art imitating life.  Get the picture? Oh, and Susan was a great pal & agreed to be in their show.

Chris Smyth as "Hunter" in [title of show] - Dayton, OhioWith a song list that includes such classics as “Untitled Opening Number,” “Monkeys & Playbills,” “I Am Playing Me,” “Nine People’s Favorite Thing,” and  “Die Vampire, Die!” how could you possibly consider missing this opportunity to catch this show?

Nora Coyle as "Heidi" in [title of show] - Dayton, OhioWell…here’s good news!  You can win Tickets to [tos]! YAY! DaytonMostMetro & Encore Theater Company are giving away three pairs of tickets to [title of show].  All you need to do is give the show’s director a good DRAG QUEEN name! Yes, that’s right, brainstorm a great drag queen name for the director of the show…and suggest it in the comment section below (everyone else in the cast/crew has a DQ name already…you can check them out HERE).

We will announce winners on Wednesday night.  You will have a choice of performances (Thursday, Friday or Saturday at 7:30pm).

Help DOUBLE the number of tickets that we will be giving away!  We will announce three additional winners, if we can help DaytonMostMetro reach 2,000 fans by midnight Wednesday! Go to the DMM Facebook Fan Page, become a fan if you are not already, then share it with all of your friends, family & FB lurkers.

[title of show] will be performed at 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday & Saturday (July 15-17) at Blair Hall Theatre on the campus of Sinclair Community College.  Visit www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com for more information about Encore Theater Company & [tos].

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

[title of show] (July 15-17) Call Blair Hall Box Office at  (937) 512-2808 or visit http://www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com for information and links to the online box office.  Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.  Please note:  [title of show] contains adult themes and language.

SA

Encore Theater Company welcomes the writers of Next Thing You Know to Dayton, July 23-25

Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham - Next Thing You KnowOn the “developing new musical theatre in Dayton, Ohio” front, ETC would like to mention the exciting fact that the writers of NEXT THING YOU KNOW will be traveling from New York to work with the Dayton cast on the show.  Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham (who penned the Off-Broadway hit I LOVE YOU BECAUSE) have been developing NTYK for a potential New York run, and will be utilizing the Encore Theater Company production as an opportunity to test some changes and make some creative decisions in the development process.

In an effort to help cover Josh & Ryan’s expenses, ETC kicked off the 30 for 30 for New Musical Theater campaign last week.  The response was great from the Dayton arts community…making this opportunity a reality!  If you would like to contribute to the fund, and an opportunity to meet the writers, please email the ETC staff at [email protected] for information about how you can participate in the campaign.

While Salzman & Cunningham are in town, they will also conduct a workshop for Dayton actors about auditioning for musical theatre productions.  This workshop will take place on Saturday, July 24th in the Oregon District Arts Collaborative space above the new SideBar (400 East Fifth Street, Suite A).  Email the ETC staff at [email protected] for information.

Next Thing You Know will be performed at 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday & Saturday (August 12-14) at Blair Hall Theatre on the campus of Sinclair Community College.  Visit www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com for more information about Encore Theater Company & NTYK.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

Next Thing You Know (August 12-14) Call Blair Hall Box Office at  (937) 512-2808 or visit http://www.EncoreTheaterCompany.com for information and links to the online box office.  Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.  Please note: NTYK contains adult themes and language.

Update: NEXT THING YOU KNOW by Salzman & Cunningham

Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham traveled from New York to Dayton last weekend to work with the ETC cast of NEXT THING YOU KNOW.  The writers continued to mold & shape their show into what they envision it to be.  This was a thrilling experience for everyone at Encore Theater Company.

While Salzman & Cunningham were in town we took some time to sit down with them, and the cast of NTYK to record a MusicalWorld episode.  Look for that episode below.

We also hosted a reception for the writing team at the home of Dr. Michael Ervin, followed by a trip to the new SideBar in the Oregon District.  Much thanks go out to Dr. Ervin, Kevin Moore (artistic director of The Human Race Theatre Co.), the donor’s in the “30 for 30” campaign, the folks at Toxic Brew Company (keep watching DMM for info about this cool Dayton start-up), Bill & Shannon from Dayton Most Metro and representatives from other local organizations & theatre companies.  Look for a video about that reception below.

http://www.mevio.com/episode/241734/mw66-salzman-amp-cunningham-next-thing-you

SA

Spitfire Grill

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

The Spitfire Grill - Beavercreek Community TheatreWhile not a brand new piece of musical theater, SPITFIRE GRILL is a rarely performed show.  The last performance in Dayton was the excellent production by The Human Race Theatre a few seasons ago.

Doug Lloyd will helm the Beavercreek Community Theatre production of Spitfire Grill September 17th through the 26th.  He will be joined on staff by Stacey Gear (choreographer) and Dr. James Tipps (music director).  BCT recently held auditions for the show.  The result was what looks to be a terrific cast for this heartwarming show.

Percy Talbott – Sydney Lanier

Shelby Thorpe – Katie Storost

Hannah Ferguson – Pam McGinnis

Effy Krayneck – Teresa Connair

Sheriff Joe Sutter – Max Monnig

Caleb Thorpe – Brad Mattingly

The Visitor – Nick Vanderpool

Synopsis:

A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. It is for sale but there are no takers for the only eatery in the depressed town, so newcomer Percy suggests to Hannah that she raffle it off. Entry fees are one hundred dollars and the best essay on why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail is arriving by the wheelbarrow full and things are definitely cookin’ at the Spitfire Grill

Mark your calendars and plan to attend what will surely be a terrific production of  Spitfire Grill.

For more Information & Tickets, visit:

Spitfire Grill (September 17-26) Call Beavercreek Community Theatre Box Office at  (937) 429-4737 or visit http://www.bctheatre.org for information and links to the online box office.

SA

FINALLY – be sure to check out the latest MusicalWorld Podcast that features an interview with Susan Blackwell (who was in the original cast of [title of show] on Broadway!

Dinner for Schmucks – Special Screening and DMM Contest!

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DaytonMostMetro.com has 25 pairs of free passes for a special screening of Dinner for Schmucks on Tuesday July 27 at 7:30pm @ The Greene (that is three days before the official release).  That’s FIFTY passes – courtesy of DreamWorks SKG Studios and DaytonMostMetro.com!

So how do you get your hands on some of these passes, you ask?  Easy – just leave a comment below that describes the worst/craziest work dinner party you’ve ever gone to, or the worst/craziest thing you’ve ever done for a work promotion.  DMM’s official judges (we keep them locked in a closet and at the ready for these kinds of things) will choose the best 25.  MAKE SURE you use your real email address – this ain’t the DDN comment boards!  We won’t make your email address public but will use it to contact you if you win.  Comment before this Friday July 16 – we’ll announce the winners on that day.

And if you’re not already liking us on Facebook, go do it – we plan to do more of these in the future and our FB page is the best way to find out about them!

Synopsis: The comedy DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS tells the story of Tim (Paul Rudd), an up-and-coming executive who has just received his first invitation to the “dinner for idiots,” a monthly event hosted by his boss that promises bragging rights (and maybe more) to the exec that shows up with the biggest buffoon.  Tim’s fiancée, Julie, finds it distasteful and Tim agrees to skip the dinner, until he bumps into Barry (Steve Carell) – an IRS employee who devotes his spare time to building elaborate taxidermy mouse dioramas – and quickly realizes he’s struck idiot gold. Tim can’t resist, and invites Barry, whose blundering good intentions soon sends Tim’s life into a frenzied downward spiral and a series of comic misadventures, threatening a major business deal, bringing crazy stalker ex-girlfriend, Darla, back into Tim’s life and driving Julie (or so Tim thinks) into the arms of another man.

From Jay Roach, director of “Meet the Parents” and “Meet the Fockers” comes an unforgettable feast about two unlikely friends and one very memorable dinner.

Dinner for Schmucks – Trailer 1

Dinner for Schmucks – Trailer 2

Dayton Sports Weekly Update: 7/12/2010

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Woah, so clearly there is a gap in your brief sports news on DaytonMostMetro.com from last week.  What can I say?  The holidays got to me, and that amount of alcohol and fireworks makes for an uncooperative writing mood.  Besides, unless you wanted to read more about how the Dragons are stinking things up, you didn’t miss much.  This LAST week was the money week here in Dayton so thank God I’m here to tell you!  Unless you read it somewhere else first….  Here we go!

Ok ok don’t get all bent out of shape the Dragons didn’t do so bad over the last TWO weeks…  They managed to even themselves out with a really great run this last week but trust me when I say the week of the 4th was best left forgotten.  Also, I apologize but I’m not going to run down the 14 games I missed, so lets consider this another review on the fly week.  They started out great!  But a win against Fort Wayne was dashed away by dropping the other two games in that series, and what a shocker, both of them were by one run.  They continued the weekend of the 4th with another 3 straight losses to the Great Lakes Loons. That is 5 in a row, even for a team on a destined collision course with rock bottom, that can be hard to swallow.

But all was not lost!  In the ever blackening void that the team was traveling down, they found a light, an illumination, a 2 story glowing neon sign saying “Win a Game, second exit on the left.”  Heeding those wise directions, they slammed on the breaks, did a big U-ie  and hit the road for 6 straight wins, snagging two straight series from West Michigan and Bowling Green.  Ok West Michigan is practically the worst team in the league, but we don’t have much room to talk right now do we?  A win is a win after all, and the fresh air on the open road must have done the boys well because 4 of those games were even won by 2 or more runs.   Ahh, but something about heading back into the balmy Miami Valley must have staggered them, because 2 more losses against the Loons this weekend stopped them short.  (why have they played them the last 3 weeks in a row anyway?)  Oh well, you can’t win them all as they say, but I am pretty sure that now marks the Dragon’s longest win streak this year.

First news on the block for the Gems.  I had mentioned two weeks ago that they had delayed an expected press conference until an undisclosed date.  That date turned out to be last Wednesday.  At this conference the Gems finally announced their new Head Coach and General Manager, Brian Gratz. This is good news!  Sort of.. I mean, as near as I can figure… from what you can tell from the guy….  Let’s say he doesn’t have a huge record to work with.  Yes the Gems have definitely hired some young blood here, and some might consider it a gamble.  The Gems were not exactly the league sensation that I think ownership were perhaps hoping for in their first season back.  Their attendance was worst in the league (as was their record) and no amount of seriously cheap tickets or ridiculously cheap beer could seem to draw the crowds out to Hara.  The solution seems pretty obvious, namely, win more games.

So can this guy win more games?  It sure as hell looks like it on the surface.  His college career with Penn State is fairly distinguished, winning four American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championships as a goaltender, after which he went up to the minors playing for a variety of teams over the next 5 years, but had pretty limited play time.  He has had two years under his belt as a professional hockey coach.  His stats certainly don’t lie, with two winning seasons, (the second a little worse than the first) but any winning season is better than what the Gems dealt with last year, so he won’t have to soar high, just get this bird off the ground.  If anyone asks where he was last year, I have heard he was coaching JV hockey at Penn State, but don’t quote me on that.

Are the Gems doing the right thing?  I can’t say.  Hiring someone young to take the reigns might be exactly what the team needs, hell what the City of Dayton needs, and there is always a possibility it won’t work out, but give the guy a chance to work  his skills and see what he can do.  He’s never coached at this level before, so hopefully the management up top will give him more than a year to prove his stuff.  Welcome to Dayton Coach Grantz, we’re waiting in anticipation.

On a final note.  The Gems are changing their jerseys next year to reflect a little bit more with their classics from back in the day.  Personally I was a big fan of the new ones… Not sure really how I feel about these, and I would have preferred to see them bust out some real throwback jerseys a few times a year instead of completely changing their look after one season.  Still, you be the judge..  No seriously, you can go vote on which one you like most but only until this Wednesday, so get crackin’.

Ok, so there have been quite a few games for the Dutch Lions as well so instead of going over a game by game, I’ll let you know how they fared and where they stand at the moment.  The Lions played the Michigan Bucks two weeks that brought them a 2-1 victory, and was followed up this last weekend with two losses in Canada, ouch.  First a failed comeback attempt resulted in a 2-1 loss against Forest City and on Sunday, a 2-0 loss left the Dutch Lions with no points for the week, and dropped them down to 3rd place in the league with only two games remaining.  Their last home game is this upcoming Saturday at 1:00pm.  Go watch them if you haven’t yet this year!

Up next is great news for the Lions.  Last week they held a press conference to announce that Dayton has been promoted to the USL Championship League (formerly USL-2).  In addition the Lions announced they will be creating a new women’s team to compete next year in the USL W-League.  This is a pretty amazing jump after only a single year of play, but clearly the Lions administration has a specific goal in mind for their organization and the USL must clearly see them as an asset.  The Lions will no longer be playing regional teams in a separate division of the PDL, but six seasoned teams from in the Northeastern region of the US.  This will be more challenging play for the Lions, but it will help in just about every aspect of the program including exposure, attendance, increased skill level, etc.  The Lions are on their way to create true major league athletes that could end up playing across the globe.

Did I hear rumors of them considering construction of their own stadium?  Ehh, I can’t back that up, but bring it on guys!

On a brief note to the Dutch Lion’s brothers who played in the World Cup Championship yesterday, my condolences.  It was a very hard fought game, with yellow cards flying every where and more flopping players than should respectfully appear on world-wide television.  Both teams were playing pretty….. strongly, and though I lament the loss to Spain for our adopted Netherlands, at least they didn’t win the game off of a dirty free kick call after tripping over their own feet and falling to the ground in the most unconvincing display of pain ever televised…  They set up a good run and made a good shot, end of story.

A quick note here, Cassandra Lloyd has been selected as the Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Female Co-Athlete of the Year.  The first time for a Wright State athlete as I understand it.

I’ve mentioned the last few weeks about Wright State baseball athletes picked up by professional teams, so I wanted to take the time to note that  Cole Tyrell, a former Flyer who was selected in the 2010 draft by the San Diego Padres, has been promoted to their Single A club, the Eugene Emeralds, congrats, Cole, best of luck out there.

Football season is fast approaching, and Phil Steel’s College Football Preview has recognized seven Flyers to be on it’s pre-season All-Pioneer team.  Since I’m completely uneducated in Flyer’s football, I guess I had better start doing some reading before September gets here shouldn’t I?  Phew, there is going to be a lot to keep up with when college lets back in, isn’t there?

Well, I’m out, we’ll be back next week with more tidbits and updates on your favorite local sports, and until then, go watch a game in Dayton!

I AM LOVE – Don’t Miss This Gem!

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Hello Everyone.

Tomorrow, THE NEON begins the engagement of my favorite film from last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. I saw 31 films in 9 days, and I AM LOVE – starring Tilda Swinton – took my breath away and came out on top. Don’t miss this film on the big screen.

Perhaps you’ve read one of the stunning reviews from any number of sources. Jay Weissberg of VARIETY gave the film a 100% review. He wrote, “In every sense, I AM LOVE is a stunning achievement.”
Erica Abeel of HUFFINGTON POST has similar feelings to mine about the film – “Is it possible to be addicted to a movie? I’ve watched I AM LOVE three times, and I can feel an urge coming on for a fourth fix. A rapturously beautiful film.”

In addition to a beautiful film, we’ve got a great promotion in place. Foodies are loving the exquisite food offerings in the film…so we have decided to partner with a wonderful restaurant just a few blocks away – Coco’s Bistro on Wayne Avenue. Karen Wick, owner of Coco’s, screened I AM LOVE a couple weeks ago and immediately had menu ideas. While THE NEON is playing I AM LOVE, you can use a NEON ticket stub to receive 15% off your meal at Coco’s. If you go to Coco’s first, you can use your dining receipt to receive a buy 1 get 1 ticket to I AM LOVE at THE NEON. (Offer only valid on the same day.) If you visit Coco’s for dinner, you can try their special feature – Prawnographic Risotto…based on a scene from the film.

Synopsis for I AM LOVE: “I AM LOVE tells the story of the wealthy Recchi family, whose lives are undergoing sweeping changes. Eduardo Sr., the family patriarch, has decided to name a successor to the reigns of his massive industrial company, surprising everyone by splitting power between his son Tancredi, and grandson Edo. But Edo dreams of opening a restaurant with his friend Antonio, a handsome and talented chef. At the heart of the family is Tancredi’s wife Emma (Tilda Swinton), a Russian immigrant who has adopted the culture of Milan. An adoring and attentive mother, her existence is shocked to the core when she falls quickly and deeply in love with Edo’s friend and partner Antonio, and embarks on a passionate love affair that will change her family forever.” (Magnolia Pictures)

Lastly, we’re holding onto both HARRY BROWN and THE SQUARE for one more week. On July 16th, we’ll start what’s looking to be the indie hit of the summer – CYRUS.

We hope to see you very soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for July 9 – July 15:

THE SQUARE (R) 105 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:10, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 5:10

HARRY BROWN (R) 103 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 7:30

I AM LOVE (R) 120 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 7:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
July 16 CYRUS
July 30 WINTER’S BONE
July 30 THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Aug. 20 THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
Sept. 10 FAREWELL
TBD – JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
TBD – MICMACS

Yellow Springs Experience: An Immersion into Art & Culture

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The last time I visited Yellow Springs, I went used book shopping at Dark Star Books, walked the trails at the beautiful Glen Helen Nature Preserve and ate a delicious lunch at the popular Ha Ha Pizza eatery.

It was a good reprieve from the my day-to-day stresses.

A day in the eclectic, bohemian village can be a refreshing and invigorating experience.

Just imagine what 10 days can be.

Starting this weekend, Yellow Springs invites the region to become acquainted with everything that makes it special in the form of a 10-day art and cultural extravaganza called Yellow Springs Experience. From July 9-18, the village will be bustling with a flurry of cultural activities. Over 80 events ranging from visual arts workshops, wellness classes, theater and dance performances and art exhibits are scheduled, creating a 360-degree immersive shared experience. The goal was to capture the essence of the community, says Yellow Springs Arts Council administrator Carole Braun.

“There was always the Antioch Writer’s Workshop and the Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse,” says Braun “There were a couple of things that happen in the summer. This is an attempt by the arts council to put together some of the things that were a backbone of entertainment and culture in Yellow Springs. We thought we would try and pull together everything. So there are astrology classes, a sustainable building and farm tours… Glen Helen ecocamps. We tried to get a little bit of everything so that people can experience the flavor of Yellow Springs.”

Events will be located at various venues throughout the village, including Antioch College which will present “Letters Home from Freedom Summer”, a public reading of select writings of some of the over 600 students who organized non-violent protests of the segregation policies of Mississippi in the summer of 1964. “We’ve been able to pull in our educational institutions,” says Karen Wintrow, executive director of the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce. “This community is really strong on education.

“Our  job is to bring people to Yellow Springs,” she adds. “We think the festival embodies everything we’re about.”

Braun is optimistic that this will be an annual celebration.  “We’d like to make it a yearly event,” she says. “We’re already excited about next year!”

Most events are ticketed, including those that are free. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.yellow-springs-experience.org, which also offers a complete list of events.

What can you expect from the 10-day Yellow Springs Experience? Here is a partial listing of some of the events scheduled:

The Grand Hoopla YS Experience Launch Party at the YS Arts Council – July 9, 4-7 p.m.

The Red Tent Women’s Self-Nourishing Time – Daily, 2-4 p.m.

YS Kids Playhouse: The Conference of the Birds – Thursday – Sunday, 7:30 p.m.

Skate Music Fest & Battle of the Bands – July 11, 3-8 p.m.

Cirque Carnival on Dayton Street – July 16, 6-10p.m.

WYSO “Are You Listening” Group Listening Experience, AACW Poetry Jam, movies nightly at the Little Art Theatre, wheel-thrown pottery workshops, yoga meditation, and much more!

Click here for the full experience.

2 Local Premieres + Special Coco’s News!

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Hello Everyone.

In addition to holding PLEASE GIVE for limited screenings, THE NEON will open 2 new films – HARRY BROWN (starring NEON favorite Michael Caine) and THE SQUARE (a thriller that has drawn many critical comparisons to the Coen Brothers).

Synopsis for HARRY BROWN: “Academy Award nominee Daniel Barber makes his feature directorial debut with this gritty critique on contemporary British society starring Michael Caine as an elderly shut-in who’s spurred to action by a senseless act of violence. Harry Brown (Caine) resides in a desolate public-housing apartment block as his sickly wife lies dying in a local hospital. He spends most of his days in solitude, only getting out to play the occasional game of chess at a nearby pub with his best friend, Leonard. The days of basic human decency seem to be a thing of the past, because in recent years barbarous drug dealers and gangsters have overtaken the dilapidated complex. Killing is a way of life for these young thugs, and as a result overburdened detectives Frampton (Emily Mortimer) and Hicock are essentially relegated to knocking on doors and notifying parents when their children have been killed in the latest fracas, instead of investigating the crimes and jailing the guilty parties. When Leonard is murdered just feet from his own apartment, former Royal Marine Harry utilizes the skills he learned while fighting the IRA to take on the aggressive chavs who have intimidated the police into inaction.” (Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide)

Synopsis for THE SQUARE: “Temptation turns a man’s life upside down in this noir-influenced thriller from Australia. Ray Yale (David Roberts) is a construction worker who is married to Martha (Lucy Bell) and is helping to build an upscale resort hotel just outside Sydney. Ray isn’t entirely happy in his marriage, and his roving eye has become focused on Carla (Claire van der Boom), a hairdresser who lives next door. Carla is married to a low-level mobster, Greg (Anthony Hayes), but she craves excitement and is soon having a torrid affair with Ray. Carla knows that Greg has a large bundle of cash hidden in their home, and she hatches a scheme she shares with Ray — they steal they money, set fire to the house, and run off together, with Greg imagining the cash was lost in the blaze. While Ray isn’t interested in a life of crime, he can’t say no to Carla, but when he develops cold feet at the last minute, his attempts to reach Billy (Joel Edgerton), who was hired to torch the house, are unsuccessful, and things take a turn for the worse…” (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)

I’m very excited about next Friday. On July 9th, we open I AM LOVE – my favorite film from last year’s Toronto Film Fest. I AM LOVE, with an incredible lead performance by Tilda Swinton, has a very interesting food element entwined in the film. Because it seems like a perfect match, we’re partnering with Coco’s Bistro – on Wayne Avenue – during the film’s engagement. Karen Wick, owner of Coco’s, screened I AM LOVE a couple weeks ago and immediately had ideas of a special menu that ties in with the film. While THE NEON is playing I AM LOVE, you can use a NEON ticket stub to receive 15% off your meal at Coco’s. If you go to Coco’s first, you can use your dining receipt to receive a buy 1 get 1 ticket to I AM LOVE at THE NEON. (Offer only valid on the same day.) You won’t want to miss I AM LOVE on the big screen. I promise you…it’s incredible!! Mark your calendars.

We hope to see you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for July 2 – July 8:

THE SQUARE (R) 105 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 5:00, 7:20

HARRY BROWN (R) 103 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

PLEASE GIVE (R) 90 Minutes
Friday – Thursday: 2:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
July 9 I AM LOVE (My favorite from Toronto!)
July 16 CYRUS
July 30 WINTER’S BONE
July 30 THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Aug. 20 THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
Sept. 10 FAREWELL
TBD – JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
TBD – MICMACS