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Hey Dayton- Show Us Your Peeps!

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Boxed in sets of five, Peeps are marshmallow candies,  created by a Russian immigrant and hatched each Easter season at a factory in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Over the years peeps have become diverse, first expanding from the original yellow chick to an array of pastels.  Next came bunnies and then in a recent campaign the candy has been touted as “Peeps – Always in Season” and they’ve started making them in other shapes, like ghosts at Halloween.  They are made from marshmallow, corn syrup, gelatin, and carnauba wax.

People are obsessed by peeps. There’s even a documentary about “The Power of the Peep” that premiered in 2009 and took home an award at the NYC Food Film Fest.

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There are Peep eating contests,  Peep Throwing contests and over 30,000 You Tube video’s featuring peeps- many of which concentrate on destroying Peeps.  Peeps are sometimes jokingly described as “indestructible”. In 1999, scientists at Emory University performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see how easily they could be dissolved, burned or otherwise disintegrated, using such agents as cigarette smoke, boiling water and liquid nitrogem.  They claimed that the eyes of the confectionery “wouldn’t dissolve in anything.” Furthermore, Peeps are insoluble in acetone, water, diluted sufuric acid and sodium hydroxcide, according to Wikipedia.

Peep shows have popped up around the country.  No, not that kind of peep-get your mind out of the gutter.  Peep art shows.  Photo contests, peeps in doranma’s, themed events like peep-powered works of art. Peeps have been made into prom dresses, jewelry and even dipped in chocolate, for the newest Peep treat.

Well now DaytonDining is getting into the peep show business.

Post an original peep work of art on our DaytonDining Facebook page by Sunday, April 24th and we’ll award our favorite peep art a $100 gift certificate to Fleming’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar.  We’ll notify and post the winner on Monday, April 25th.

Here are a few peep shots for inspiration!  Can’t wait to see your peeps!

Jane’s Best Bets (4/13 – 4/17)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s almost tax day.  As many of you rush to get yours completed (don’t worry, I’m in that boat too), hopefully you get a break so you can enjoy some of these events going on in the Dayton area this week!

On Wednesday, learn The Basics of Excel 2007 (which may be helpful for everyone doing their own accounting) at Sinclair.  At the Greene County Career Center, attend their “Sushi Galore” Cooking Class.  Afterwards, you are more than welcome to make me some!  If you are feeling artsy, attend the UD Celebration of the Arts: Closing Visual Arts Exhibition and Reception.  All creative professionals should get happy (if you’re not already) by attending the Happy Hour Special Event: Cincinnati Creatives Head North at Harrigan’s Tavern South.  Dayton Creative Syndicate (DCS) will welcome the American Advertising Foundation-Dayton and AIGA Cincinnati colleagues to the area for a networking/social event.  If you’re a movie lover who likes to laugh, make your way to The Neon for a special screening of Punching the Clown.  At the Dayton Racquet Club, help kick off the Dayton Dutch Lions’ soccer season by attending their VIP Party and Date Auction!  Ladies – they always say soccer players are hot (even when they don’t have a fever)!  And finally, put on your blue suede shoes and catch the music of “The King” with All Shook Up, which is being performed at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, music lovers should attend the 2011 WGI Percussion World Championships to see talented percussion ensembles from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.  Young professionals will not want to miss the Generation Dayton Thirsty Thursday at Blind Bob’s, which will provide an awesome opportunity for YPs to network/socialize.  If you put wine and yoga together, some say you get “woga” or “yine.”  However, at the Metropolitan Arts Center, you get Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice.  All you green wannabes should Go Green At PNC 2nd Street Market, where you will learn about the top ten ways to go green at home.  Support a great cause by attending Guest Grillers Kramer & Clober at BD’s Mongolian Grill.  In addition to food grilled by local DJs, there will be a silent auction, raffles, games, and prizes.  If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, take them to see Charlotte’s Web at the Dominion Academy of Dayton.  And if you want a good laugh, check out the award-winning musical comedy Nunsense at Chakeres Memorial Theatre.  Sounds like my kind of show, as it is described as having hilarious puns!  In other theater news, you can attend All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre or Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre.  And finally, if you prefer to do the performing yourself, make your way to Champps for their Karaoke Thursdays.

Voice Pathologist Jennifer Rettig Taking A Look at My Vocal Folds

Friday is World Voice Day, so head to The Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis and Rehabilitation, one of the most well-respected voice clinics in the nation as they celebrate 2011 World Voice Day!  Be sure to schedule your appointment for a FREE voice screening, in which you will be able to see pictures/video of your vocal folds!  I have had it done and I assure you, it is painless!  If you haven’t yet, be sure to register for the 2011 Young Creatives Summit at the Dayton Convention Center in which you will be able to voice your opinions about our community.  Join jumpstART as they Jump into Photography at Stivers School for the Arts.  It’s a Friday in Lent, so that also means a Fish Fry (American Legion Post 707)!  And finally, if you are looking to attend a show/musical, here are a few options:  Nunsense at Chakeres Memorial Theatre, All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre, The Boys Next Door at Dayton Theatre Guild, The Daughter of The Regiment (opera) at Schuster Performing Arts Center, Charlotte’s Web at Dominion Academy of Dayton, and The Phantom Tollbooth at Town Hall Theatre.

On Saturday, celebrate Earth Day by heading to the PNC 2nd Street Market for their Tree Seedling Giveaway.  (I planted a few of them a couple years ago and they are now over three feet tall!)  Get in shape by participating in the 5K Run for the Cure in Tipp City, which starts at Harrison’s.  Music lovers should head over to Omega Music for the National Record Day Celebration.  Take the kids to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Junior League of Dayton’s ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ Event at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, which will feature seven different healthy lifestyles stations, including such things as zumba for children and dental care.  Help raise money for scholarships for the Dayton Alumnae Panhellenic Association by attending Sashay Into Spring’ Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center.  Also, be sure to bring job interview clothing donations for Clothes that Work!  Support another great cause by attending a Wine Tasting to benefit Children’s Medical Center at Arrow Wine & Spirits.  You can also support the Greene Community Health Foundation at their Bowling For Babies event at Beaver-Vu Bowling Lanes.  All you soccer lovers will not want to miss the Dayton Dutch Lions FC Home Opener ‘All Things Dutch’ at Miami Valley South Stadium!  Be sure to wear your orange!  Several shows are going on around town that were mentioned above, so be sure to check out the DMM Calendar!   At Kira’s Oasis, attend the Burlesque Show & ARC (AIDS Resource Center) Benefit.  Or, attend Flappers & Dappers, a 20s Gala benefiting Hannah’s Treasure Chest which will be held at the Schuster Center.

On Sunday, don’t miss your chance to get All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre.  Or catch Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild, or The Phantom Tollbooth at Town Hall Theatre.  At The Neon, check out Lunafest, which is an event featuring short films by, for, and about women.  Sorry men.  And finally, for a little musical entertainment, head to the University of Dayton for their Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band or their Music Ensembles.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

There are three kinds of accountants in the world. Those who can count and those who can’t.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Permanent Collection

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Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons - Human Race Theatre Co. - April 15 - May 1 - Dayton, OH

Alan Bomar Jones and Scott McGowan

Permanent Collection

The Human Race Theatre Co.

An art museum may not be the first place you’d think of when it comes to workplaces with intense conflict, but in Thomas Gibbons’ Permanent Collection the Morris Foundation has as much head-butting as an NFL game. And unlike in an NFL game, the production by The Human Race Theatre, Dayton’s own professional theatre company, doesn’t provide the players with helmets and pads.

Eccentric collector Alfred Morris pretty much guarantees the collisions when his will stipulates both that his museum go to an historically black college and that the displays be kept precisely as they are – leading to an inevitable battle over African artworks that have been kept in basement storage.

Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons - Human Race Theatre Co. - April 15-May 1 - Dayton, OH

Alan Bomar Jones

The Morris Foundation is loosely based on the Barnes Foundation of Philadelphia, a real-life private museum with a real-life eccentric owner, Barnes is the subject of the film documentary The Art of the Steal, though the film and Permanent Collection cover entirely different aspects of the aftermath of the collector’s death.

Permanent Collection is directed by Dayton native and current New Yorker Schele Williams, who did a masterful job at the helm of Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow two years ago. It is part of the 2010-2011 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race, which will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of its incorporation during the run.

An Evening at the Museum with More Drama Than Night at the Museum

The college which inherits the collection hires African-American businessman Sterling North as director. North is played by Human Race Resident Artist Alan Bomar Jones, most recently seen at The Loft in A Christmas Carol, who recently garnered rave reviews for the Columbus one-man-play as folk artist Ezra Pierce, Pierce to the Soul.

Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons - Human Race Theatre Co. - April 15-May 1 - Dayton, OH

Melissa Joyner and Scott McGowan

North’s discoveries lead to the battles with the museum #2, Paul Barrow, played by New York-based Scott McGowan, who has won awards for performances in Miss Saigon and Evita, so he knows about culture clashes. The two men draw in the office staff, played by New Yorkers Sharon Hope (who has done numerous Law & Order episodes, so she knows verbal fracases) and Melissa Joyner (whose many credits include a turn as a student in Carrie II, so she know about the results of anger), into the fray.

A reporter who gets interested in the story is played by Christine Brunner of Middletown, who was in Human Race productions of A Christmas Carol and has appeared in many other shows in the region, and who has been a hand model in commercials for both Charmin and Bounty, so she knows when people have made a mess of things.

The imaginative set – you have to be imaginative when depicting a few billion dollars’ worth of art – is by Tamara L. Honesty. Costumes are by Janet Powell, lighting by HRTC Resident Artist John Rensel, sound by Matthew P. Benjamin, with Heather Jackson as Production Stage Manager.

Among the participants in the While We’re On The Subject talkback after the April 24 matinee, to which audience members are invited, will be Dayton Art Institute Chief Curator Will South.

Production sponsors are Rob and Leesa Comparin, Richard and Marni Flagel, Tyree L. Fields, Larry S. Glickler – Bradford-Connelly and Glickler Funeral Homes, Jon and Diana Sebaly, Maryann and Jack Bernstein, Alan and Marsha Pippenger, and John and Tamara Clough.

-Human Race Theatre Co. Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

http://www.humanracetheatre.org/PERMANENT COLLECTION by Thomas Gibbons

April 15 – May 1 – various performance times (note…there will be an additional “preview night” performance on April 14)

at the LOFT THEATRE – map

More information and tickets are available through www.humanracetheatre.org, by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630.  Tickets can be purchased in person at the Schuster Center box office, or at the box office at The Loft two hours before curtain.

My Summit Story: A Leadership Journey

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the fourth in a series of “My Summit Story” segments (see part one or part two or part three) highlighting the diverse, talented, and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

Adam Coatney was born and raised in Dayton. He went away for school, and came back as Dr. Adam to help run his family’s vet clinic. He keeps busy with his job, real estate (married to a realtor, they manage three homes), gardening, as a first tenor in the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, and since 2009  – as the co-chair of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee.  In 2010, Adam volunteered to serve on the updayton Steering Committee (in addition to his continuing work with Wayne Avenue), and beginning in 2011, he will be replacing Scott Murphy as the updayton chairperson.

Dayton isn’t new for Adam – it’s always been his home.  So, what inspired this guy, who typically isn’t a “joiner,” to be a part of the Summit? And what does he think the Summit offers other young professionals?  Here is Adam’s Summit story.

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Coming Up in Dayton Theatre – 04/07 – 04/20

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HRTC: Permanent Collection

Human Race Theatre Co.: Permanent Collection

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Famous playwright, critic, and essayist George Bernard Shaw (who wrote Arms and the Man, opening this weekend at Clark State) once said, “You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’” The capacity to imagine and “dream things that never were” is vital to appreciating the arts, for the moment you walk through theatre doors, you become part of a new world and story for the next few hours. From a monster made of smoke to a drag queen with just “an angry inch” to four men running around in various stages of undress and clergy suits, the shows in the greater Dayton area this week are sure to expand your imaginations, while inspiring laughter and thought at the same time. Between special performances and weekend schedules, eight shows and a special event over the next two weeks provides you the opportunity to see a show almost any night you choose. So, this week, see a show or two or eight and enhance your imagination – as Shaw said, “Why not?”

ANOTHER OPENIN’, ANOTHER SHOW

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

The Phantom Tollbooth

ZOOT THEATRE COMPANY with TOWN HALL THEATRE COMPANY

Phantom Tollbooth

Photo Credit: ZOOT Theatre Company

The Story: In this adaptation of the youth classic, after the very bored Milo receives a make-believe tollbooth, he is transported to the Lands Beyond, a fantastic and imaginitive world. He meets Tock the watchdog, the floating Alex Bings (whose legs have not yet grown down to earth), Dynne (a monster made of smoke), and many others, ultimately learning the boundlessness of imagination.
Dates: April 15 – 30, 2011, at both Town Hall Theatre and the Schuster Center Mathile Theatre
Tickets and More Information: Town Hall Theatre, Victoria Theatre Association , Zoot Theatre Company, and watch for a DMM feature article next week!

See How They Run

CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY

CU: See How They Run

Students rehearse in preparation for the show. Photo credit: Scott Huck

The Story: Galloping in and out of the four doors of an English vicarage are an American actor and actress, a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies, a staunch parishioner who unknowingly gets into the cooking sherry, and four men in clergyman suits. One is the bishop who really lives there, another is a disguised escaped prisoner, one just dropped in to visit, and the other — well, that’s left for those on stage and the audience to figure out in this WWII-era farce. (CU)
Dates: April 7 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Cedarville University Production Season, Cedarville University Box Office , and watch for a DMM feature article!

Arms and the Man

CLARK STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE

The Story: “The Petkoff women inadvertently save an enemy soldier’s life during wartime. After the war, the soldier returns to the Petkoff home only to be reunited with his warring enemies. With classic George Bernard Shaw witticism,”Arm & the Man” shows the foolishness of war against a lush and romantic backdrop.” (CSU press release)
Dates: April 8 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Clark State box office

Permanent Collection

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

Permanent Collection

The Story: Loosely based on a true story, in this play, eccentric collector Alfred Morris pretty much guarantees the collisions when his will stipulates both that his museum go to an historically black college and that the displays be kept precisely as they are – leading to an inevitable battle over African artworks that have been kept in basement storage.(HRTC)
Dates: April 14 – May 1, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Human Race Theatre Company

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

The Story: This musical, the first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, explores the Biblical saga of Joseph through an exciting variety of musical styles. The prophetic Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, where he “endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged” as he struggles to survive in a new land and move past his brothers’ betrayal.
Dates: March 25 – April 9, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Playhouse South, DMM Review

BCYT: AliceAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY YOUTH THEATRE

The Story: Alice falls down a rabbit-hole into “a world of talking animals, comic royalty, and races where the contestants run in circles!” (BCT) This children’s adaptation provides a contemporary view of the Carroll classic, where “nonsense makes quite good sense” and we can believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Dates: April 8 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Beavercreek Community Theatre , 937-429-4737

The Boys Next Door

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Four emotionally and/or mentally challenged men live together as part of an independent living program; social worker Jack attempts to guide them in their distinct trials and pursuit of a happier life.
Dates: April 1 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: 937-278-5993 or Dayton Theatre Guild

…ONE WEEKEND ONLY

Hedwig

JJ Parkey as Hedwig

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

The Story: After the sex change operation that will allow her to marry US soldier Luther is botched, East German

rock ‘n’ roll goddess and “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt is left with just “an angry inch.” This award-winning, outrageous, and unexpectedly hilarious show tells her story in rock music and stand-up comedy, and is a show for all those who felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile, and all those who yearn to be complete. JJ Parkey (Rent) and Abigail Nessen Bengson (award-winning Mimi in last season’s Rent) co-star.
Dates: April 7 – 9, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Encore Theater Company

PART OF IT ALL

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Annie, Get Your Gun

SPRINGFIELD ARTS COUNCIL & SPRINGFIELD CIVIC THEATRE

Auditions: Saturday, April 9, 2011 – 9 am
Performances: June 16 – 19, 2011
The Story: A fictionalized version of the lives of historical figures, in this musical, we explore the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, from her falling in love to handling rival sharpshooters.
Directed by: Becky Brunsman
More Information: Springfield Arts Council: Auditions

ONE SHORT DAY

…SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE THEATRICALLY MINDED

Marshmallow Island

The Legend of Marshmallow Island

SPRINGFIELD ARTS COUNCIL

The Basics: In this exploration of world music, Lorne Lampert, founder of Mystic Drumz, searches for Marshmallow Island through multicultural music themes and interactive audience participation with projection, sound effects, and instruments from around the world.
Date: April 13, 2011 – 7:30 pm
More Information: http://www.springfieldartscouncil.org

~KN

Wig In a Box

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Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Encore Theater Co. - April 7-9 - Dayton, OHHedwig and The Angry Inch

ENCORE THEATER CO.

A few months ago, I was approached by our artistic director, David Brush, about directing the upcoming production of Hedwig and The Angry Inch.  My initial reaction was to decline, as life was certainly going to be very busy this spring, and I knew NOTHING about the show, but the opportunity to work with some of the most insanely talented people I’ve ever encountered proved to be too much of attraction.  JJ Parkey was the lead in our production of RENT last June, as were The Bengsons (Shaun & Abigail), a  mesmerizing musical duo that I can never get enough of.

Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Encore Theater Co. - April 7-9 - Dayton, OH - Photo by Ray Zupp

JJ Parkey as "Hedwig"

Since most of the ensemble would not be able to begin rehearsal until very late in the process, JJ Parkey and I began to explore the show together.  We began to peel away the layers of the show and discovered some of the most hearbreakingly beautiful theatre that I’ve ever encountered, all disguised as a drag queen rock show in a dive bar.  The official show descriptions just don’t give Hedwig justice.  All over the internet there are comments like “…a new generation’s Rocky Horror,” and “…outrageous and unexpectedly hilarious rock musical.”

These descriptions make the show sound great, but I had no clue to what extent this piece would affect me emotionally.  This is one of the most intense pieces of musical theater that I have ever encountered, mixed in with a healthy dose of risque humor and a terrific rock score.  While the characters  and their over-the-top life experiences seem so foreign to us, their desire to become “whole” to be the person that they were meant to be, to live a complete life speaks to everyone.  Everyone.  It doesn’t matter that the words are being voiced by this character stuck somewhere between a woman and a man, through her horrific experience, we can see our own.

Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Encore Theater Co. - April 7-9 - Dayton, OH

Hedwig & a fan at Blind Bob's

Once “The Angry Inch” gathered together and started joining us for rehearsals, I began to understand how this show has begun to garner status as a “cult classic” and amass an army of obsessed “Hed-Heads.”  This show freakin’ rocks!

The story & lyrics by John Cameron Mitchell and the songs by Stephen Trask fit the setting of this dive bar gig.  There’s something oddly old school about the comedy. At one turn the physical slapstick style of American Vaudeville perfectly married with the contemprary anger-laced and layered verbal sparring of today’s brightest comic minds.  The comedy is paired with a diverse collection of  songs that help to convey this character’s shocking story through a wide spectrum of emotion…passion, confusion, pain, anger, self-loathing, utter joy.  If a live performance could be bipolar, then HEDWIG is the rock musical answer to ‘Sybil’ with performances that are equally iconic and memorable.  The musical, comedy and dramatic layers collide in this performance to create an evening of near perfect theatre and an emotionally saturating 90 minutes.

UPDATE (4/8/2011):  On Wednesday evening, DMM contributors Juliet Fromholt & GladGirl  interviewed JJ Parkey about Hedwig & The Angry Inch on their show, Kaleidoscope on WYSO, 91.3 FM.  Listen HERE.

-SA / DB

-Photos by Ray Zupp

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

EncoreTheaterCompany.comHedwig and the Angry Inch

After the sex change operation that will allow her to marry US soldier Luther is botched, East German rock ‘n’ roll goddess and “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt is left with just “an angry inch.” This award-winning, outrageous, and unexpectedly hilarious show tells her story in rock music and stand-up comedy. Hedwig and The Angry Inch is a show for all those who felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile.

Thursday & Friday, April 7 & 8 – 8pm at Club Vex, 101 S. St. Clair Street

Saturday, April 9 – 8pm at MJ’s Cafe, 119 E. Third Street (enter at back of building)

All Tickets $15 – Visit EncoreTheaterCompany.com for tickets

For more information about Encore Theater Company’s entire 2011 season of musical theatre, visit EncoreTheaterCompany.com

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Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Encore Theater Co. - April 7-9 - Dayton, OH - Photo by Ray Zupp

30 Days Positive – TESTED “A Moment of Clarity”

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Follow the Journey

With cold, clammy hands and a lump in my throat I dialed from the lobby phone at ARC, Dayton OH – “I’m here to be tested.”  I’m 32 years old, why was this my first time here?  Getting tested for the HIV virus is something I had thought about many times but actually doing it has been something that frightened me and for one reason alone.  Doing so would force me to face the reality of some poor decision making and uncover and bring to light, my internal and self confidence issues that ultimately lead to making those decisions.

Above All, Love Yourself

In life we love.  In fact, finding love and being with someone for the rest of our lives is something each of us desire at one time or another.  We often say that with love comes hurt and though at times it does, love can certainly have other consequences. Often we get caught up in the emotions and happiness of finding someone that we neglect not only our own needs but also tend to lose the relationship between ourselves and that inner feeling that keeps us from making well thought out decisions. We focus on protecting our hearts and fade out that inner voice that helps to protect what’s more important – our lives. I am willing to bet that I am not alone on this one.

The Ghost of Sexual Past

One of the things in the past that I have not always considered is that though I may have been somewhat responsible throughout my life, I’d rarely question a partner, a boyfriend that is, on their responsible decision making. Naïve as it may sound I never once second guessed what I’ve been told with regard to the sexual past of my partners.  I’ll question their commitment to me, where they’ve been late at night and who they’ve been hanging out with but not who they’ve slept with? Strange.  Over the last two years I have determined that in love I become a total ass. I get caught up in a fairy tale and lose sight of what is important.   Only over the last year of my life do I fully understand what it means to respect not only yourself but your body and how important it is that your value of yourself take precedent over all else.

Have You Ever?

Those who know me know the things I’ve had to overcome in the last two years.  Admittedly, I have chosen to have a good time rather than face the issues at hand from one time or another.  As I sat there in the testing room with the Counselor answering the standard questions and my answering no to most, I had flashbacks of several occasions when I was in no position to make any kind of decision let alone go home with someone which probably would have lead to more answers being yes. Luckily, my friends have kept me out of harm’s way on numerous occasions but what if they hadn’t been  there? One stupid mistake and life as I knew it could have changed in an instant. I thank God every day that because of the support I have in my life that I now value myself more and do my best to keep out of sticky situations but there is always that chance when you are feeling down to succumb to behavior that will aid in making the wrong decision. View your life as the miracle it is and never forget that.

 

 

Negative.

Was I surprised? Not in the least yet waiting for the Counselor to turn the swab around was the longest 15 minutes of my life.  The experience was eye wakening and the conversation was life changing. If you are one of the people that still thinks of AIDS as being a GAY or Drug User disease, you’re wrong and that thinking is detrimental to awareness being raised amongst all. I assure you ALL of us need to be more aware.  Think back through your life and understanding the risks, there may have been a time that you too once put yourself into the red zone. Though you may not think that your behavior is risky if you think back to every sexual encounter you’ve had I’m positive there was a time when you weren’t always of sound mind…more than likely there was a spontaneous moment or two. If not, keep up the good work. I commend you but always consider all the factors because remember it isn’t just where you have been but where your partner has been.  Know and understand all of the risks. I don’t think after going through the testing that I will put myself at risk again. A negative read had a positive impact.

The Correlation

I share my above experiences only because I know many of us have been there. I would never criticize anyone for how they choose to live their life but I would encourage that from time to time you think about how much you really respect your own life. If at times your behavior or actions indicate that you’ve not fully considered the impact on your life those actions may have, then it may be time to rethink how you’re living your life.  Respect yourself and the lives of others.  AIDS is not one dimensional. It is a disease of mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, men and women whether not by fault or by one mistake this disease is affecting millions and no one “type” in particular.

Never violate the sacredness of your individual self-respect.  – Theodore Parker

More Stats

Know the Risks

Get Tested

AIDS Resource Center Ohio is proud to offer an orally administered, rapid result HIV test.  The test is free, painless, and quick!  The test is administered confidentially and anonymously by request and requires only a swab of cheek cells from inside your mouth.  Twenty minutes later and under normal circumstances, you will be presented with preliminary positive results about your current HIV status.

Jane’s Best Bets (4/6 – 4/10)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s April, so don’t be fooled by the people that tell you there is nothing to do in Dayton!  There are many great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, picture yourself in one of the Landscapes by Gregory T. Davis or the Landscapes by Monique Janssen-Belitz, both at Sinclair.  At the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet, attend Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork’s Photography Exhibit.  All you opera lovers should attend Opera Preview On Campus: The Daughter of the Regiment at Wright State.  Everybody needs to eat, so head to the Oregon District’s Boulevard Haus where Sausages, Burgers, and Sandwiches will be 25% off!  Afterwards, wise men say that you may want to get “All Shook Up” at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, make your way to the Schuster Center to see Nick Clooney, an award-winning journalist, author, TV personality, and activist (and the father to George Clooney!) as part of the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series.  Over at the University of Dayton, the most talented winter guards around the world will be competing in the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  Jazz your life up a bit by attending the Vectren Just Jazz Series: Maggie Green and the Brazilian Jazz Connection at the Dayton Art Institute.  In downtown Miamisburg, head to A Taste of Wine for their Greek Wine Tasting.  All you theater lovers should head to the UD for Smoke on the Mountain or Victoria Theatre for All Shook Up.  And if you love baseball, I hope you’ll be at the Dayton Dragons’ Opening Day as they take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods!

On Friday, there will be several opportunities to support some wonderful non-profits in the Miami Valley, so get out and have fun for a cause!  At the Greene, they are Going Blue for Autism Awareness – when you make select purchases at both The Wine Loft and The Funny Bone, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local autism charities.  At Town & Country Shopping Center, check out the Inner I Gallery & Partners For Community Living – Opening Reception, in which fine art created by artists with developmental disabilities will be on display and for sale.  Over at the Schuster Center, enjoy live music, great food, drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and much more as part of the The Great Escape!  All proceeds will directly benefit the Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief.  (I’m helping to plan the event so I hope to see you there!)  At the Hope Hotel and Conference Center, you will be able to support another great cause, We Care Arts, as they have their 2011 ‘Happy Days’ Auction.  Also on Saturday, you can enjoy Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas at Oregon Express.  Make your way to Fifth-Third Field to catch the Dragons as they play the Bowling Green Hot Rods.  Some theater options include All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild (I hope they’re cute), Close Ties (a family drama that brings an understanding about Alzheimer’s ) at the Kettering Health Network Theater, and Smoke on the Mountain at UD.  Also, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the amazing documentary The Elephant in the Living Room presented as part of the UD ArtStreet Friday Film Series.

On Saturday, participate in the Run for Congo 5K at Wegerzyns Garden Center.  Afterwards, it is perfectly acceptable to stuff yourself with pancakes at the Kiwanis 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Christ United Methodist Church.  If you love playing games (the nice kind, not the mean kind), head to Game Day at Your Library (the Dayton Metro Library’s East Branch).  Over at the UD Arena, you will be able to check out the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  If you love flowers, head to the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking for their Tropical Flowers Arrangement Class.  Bring out the artist in you by participating in the Art-Making & Historical Touring (Dayton Visual Arts Center) or the Get Creative Workshop – Visual Journaling (Dayton Art Institute).  Also at the Dayton Art Institute, you will be able to catch the Vanguard Concerts: Graffe String Quartet with Pianist Michiko Otaki.  Theater options for Saturday include All Shook Up (Victoria Theatre), The Boys Next Door (Dayton Theatre Guild), Close Ties (X*ACT, Xenia Area Community Theatre at the Kettering Health Network Theater), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Playhouse South), and Smoke on the Mountain (UD).  And if you miss football season, be sure to check out the Dayton Silverbacks as they take on the Marion Blue Racers.

On Sunday, start the morning off with All You Can Eat Brunch at Yankee Trace.  Then, eat some more at the Taste of Greene County at the Nutter Center.  Take the family to see the Dragons play the Bowling Green Hot Rods…plus Charity Cuts on the Plaza and McDonald’s Friends & Family Day at Fifth Third Field.  Get your legs moving for the Kettering Spring Into Health 5K Run/Walk.  If you love music, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘The Symphonic Mozart’ at the Dayton Masonic Center.  Or head to UD for their Jazz Faculty Recital.  And finally, don’t miss your chance to catch All Shook Up at the Victoria Theatre.  Thank you, thank you very much for reading.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why was it really hot after the baseball game?

All the fans left.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Making your campus GREEN

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(from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education)

Help your university become sustainable through collaboration! The Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and the Ohio Board of Regents are hosting a statewide sustainability conference. On April 12, the Ohio Higher Education Sustainability Conference, held at Sinclair Community College will explore: collaboration, campus initiatives, student involvement, community, outreach, curriculum and more from Ohio institutions and beyond. Planned by faculty and staff members from colleges and universities across the state, this event will have something for everyone!

The focus of the Higher Education Sustainability Conference is enhancing collaboration within and among our state’s institutions. To help reach this goal the event will include lectures, student presentations, a President’s and Provost’s Panel, breakout sessions highlighting best practices, and an information fair with vendors and institutions that want to share their efforts and initiatives.

Jaime Van Mourik, the Higher Education Manager for the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, will deliver the keynote address, “The Journey to a Green Campus: From Commitment to Realization.” She will offer strategies for taking college sustainability from a commitment to broad-based implementation and practice, presenting a holistic approach to campus sustainability.Additionally, Noelle Studer-Spevak, Sustainability Coordinator at Portland State University will provide a lecture titled, “What is Ohio’s Apollo program? Insights from Oregon’s race to build a sustainable future.”

Breakout session topics include, but are not limited to: campus bike share programs, food sustainability, becoming sustainable through collaboration, green programs and curriculum, engaging the campus and community, and fuel cell education.

For more information contact Ashley Appleman at (937) 258.8890 or [email protected].  To register, visit www.soche.org/conferences.

30 Days Positive – A Journey Towards Change.

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30 Days Positive – AIDS …Then and Now. – Follow the Journey on Facebook

Last week I dropped a hint that I had been working on a story and this week I have a little more to tell. This isn’t about dating, my life of chaos or anything most who know me would expect me to write about.  What I am about to embark on will challenge me emotionally and force me to face a fear that I admittedly have had for my entire life and am not proud of.

AIDS

The very thought of AIDS, contracting, being around people with the disease even just hearing the disease mentioned is something that has always triggered a myriad of emotions that frighten me to my core. Though there have been advances in medicine, treatments and research towards finding a cure, still to this day for me it’s something I’d rather not know about,  something I’ve just closed my eyes to.  That is about to change and for many reasons.  Facing my fear is a huge part of why I am about to do what I am but another reason is to help people out there who share my fear, and I know you’re out there.

30 Days Positive

Every 9½ minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV. The impact of the HIV epidemic continues to span the nation with HIV diagnoses, since the first cases of what later became known as AIDS were reported in the United States in June of 1981. Globally, more than 25 million people have died of AIDS since the first cases were reported in 1981.  AIDS has become one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges. Despite being a growing epidemic, awareness has lead to prevention and helped to reduce HIV prevalence rates in a small but growing number.  The fight still continues.

Admittedly, I know very little about the disease and what it means to be a person then and now battling the virus that has killed 25 million people. What I do know or feel now, is that my problems and those of many others are nothing in comparison to what those diagnosed and living with the disease face on a daily basis.  For the next 30 days, I will walk in their shoes.

Over the next 30 Days I will open my life up entirely to candid and heartfelt discussions with those newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the disease for years. I will learn about the risks today compared to then and what awareness has done to impact prevention both in our region, across the nation and globally. I will experience what it means to be a person in 2011 with the disease through partaking in all of the daily routines. I will learn and share what is being done to educate and prevent the spread. This ongoing series will capture not only the emotions but the struggles faced by a person living with AIDS in 2011.  It will also identify what we as humans can do to help with those struggling today both here in Dayton and around the world because out of sight is NOT out of mind.

Why Do This?

Those who know me know that I am often caught saying, “Get a real problem to complain about.” To explain, I feel that there are many of us who walk through this life baffled and stressed by such trivial matters and nothing will change in the world until we realize there is much more going on around us that deserves those emotions and acknowledgement.  As human beings, it is OUR responsibility to reach out and help those around us, with whatever they are dealing with when we have the opportunity to do so.  For a very long time, I lived my life in a bubble very narrow in my mindset about the purpose of  my life and what it means to be a good person.  My profession has opened my eyes to a world around me with people whom are in desperate need of help, of caring and understanding but most importantly for a world of people around THEM to wake up and take action.  It’s time to take action.

I would like to thank ARC and Lisa Grisby in advance for agreeing to let me be a part of what they are doing and allowing me to take part on what is not just a story but a chapter of my life that will forever change who I am. Thank you also to Daytonmostmetro.com for letting me stray away from my rants and do something  more meaningful. I encourage you to follow me on this journey.  There will be columns, video as well as an opportunity to participate in conversations on social channels but I will adhere to confidentially and respect to all who participate. Throughout this series I will also identify and capture ways in which you too can get involved.  My only goal in doing this is to open eyes and use what little influence I have for good because I know in my  heart that hundreds, thousands maybe even millions still know as little as I do.  Whether because of fear or just lack of awareness it has to change.

“I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”  – Edward Everett Hale

Jane’s Best Bets (3/30 – 4/3)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is the end of March…although the madness continues, of course!  This also means that it’s the beginning of April showers.  However, instead of gifts, I’m going to shower you with things to do!

On Wednesday, make your way to the fabulous Jay’s Seafood Restaurant for their Groth Vineyards Tasting or to Bruning’s Wine Cellar for their Special Edition Tasting: All White Wines from Germany and Austria.  Although Sammy’s El Pueblo in Springboro has been open for a little while, head to their Grand Opening Celebration, which will feature a live mariachi band and buy one get one lunch or dinner!  Hopefully you’re like me and have your tickets to Avenue Q at Victoria Theatre (which is actually on Main Street).  Entertainment Weekly called it “one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see,” so I am so ready to get my laugh on and I hope you are too!  Just be sure to get your tickets ASAP as I have been told that there are only a few tickets remaining!  (For more info on this show, check out Shane Anderson’s article on DMM.)  And if you’re feeling like grabbing a beer and listening to some acoustic music, head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam.

On Thursday, make your way to the PNC 2nd Street Market for Maple Syrup Maestro.  Over at Coco’s Bistro, enjoy their delicious food and 1/2 Price Wine by the Bottle.  Make your way to the Dayton Art Institute for DAI Movie Night: Steve McQueen in ‘Bullitt’.  FYI – “Bullit” doesn’t look like it’s speled corectlee, but when I looked it up, it waz acshually correctt.  If you love live music, make your way to the Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center to watch as The Centerville Orchestra presents, Mark Wood, a musician with an impressive resume!  Or, combine your love for video games with music by attending the Dayton Philharmonic’s The Return of Play! A Video Game Symphony at the Schuster Center.

On Friday, don’t go out and do anything.  Just be lazy, stay at home, and relax on the couch.  April Fool!  Of course you better not be doing that or else I’d have to try to drag you off the couch!  Instead, you can make your way to the Dayton Visual Arts Center for their Auction Preview Exhibition.  If you love cows and want to protect them, head to the Dayton Mall Chick-fil-A for their customer appreciation day, in which you will get a free Chick-fil-A sandwich(offered  4-7PM).  I have to be honest – I am so disappointed because I LOVE Chick-fil-A but do the “no meat on Fridays in Lent” thing…I wish they had a Fish-fil-A Sandwich!  Help raise money for music scholarships at Cedarville University by attending the ‘Musical Chairs’ performance.  If you’re downtown, be sure to participate in First Friday, the art hop that happens the first Friday of each month.  Kristen Wicker does a fantastic job telling you all about the events going on as part of First Friday, so I’ll shut my mouth (or stop typing) and encourage you to check out her article yourself…it’s really not a joke!

On Saturday, all you 5K lovers should head to Eastwood MetroPark for Celtic Academy’s Inaugural 5K Race for the Worlds Run/Walk.  All you art lovers should attend the Auction Preview Exhibition at the Dayton Visual Arts Center.  Some theater options include Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton.  Also at the University of Dayton, listen to the sounds of the Ebony Heritage Singers, Dayton’s gospel choir which will perform music from the African-American sacred music tradition.  Take the stairway to the Schuster Center, which will seem like heaven as you see the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Symphony Rocks: Music of Led Zeppelin.  If you love football but hate to sit out in the cold, head to Hara Arena to watch as the Dayton Silverbacks play the Cincinnati Commandos.  And if you love black tie events and supporting great causes, head to the Wright State University ArtsGala.  I have heard that this is always an amazing event!

The Symphony Rocks: The Music of Led Zeppelin

On Sunday, THEater seems like THE thing to do!  Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Doorat Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton are all options.  Or bring your kids to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Beat Goes On at the Schuster Center.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

How does a cow keep track of all her appointments?

She checks her COWander.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

10?’s with Chef Bob Silva

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Bahn Mai Thai is independently owned and operated by Bob and Judy Silva located in Washington Township since 2005.  Chef Bob was born Dumnuan Nahiran in Bahn Mai, Thailand.  As an Air Force kid, he moved every 4 years, living in exotic countries such as Japan and the Philippines. He learned his fabulous cooking technique, which he describes as country Thai from his mother who ran a roadside stand outside of the Taklee and Utapao Airforce Bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Together he and wife, Judy, bring an American flair to the Thai dining experience with a creative fusion of east meets western cuisine with award-winning dishes like Roasted Garlic and Chive Rangoons, winner for best use of Garlic at the Cox Arboretum Garlic Fest in 2008 pictured here and Twice Cooked Fish-distinctly flavored with authentic ingredients,  like kaffir lime leaves.  

In 2008 Bahn Mai  was named to the Dayton Daily News Hidden Gems list.

And now the ten questions:

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

I love basil because it’s the key ingredient in my favorite dish, Pad Kapow Basil Stir Fry.
(Special Bonus- Chef Bob’s Pak Kapow recipe is included at the end of this post.)

What ingredient do you dread?

Seafood. There are a couple of dishes & appetizers that I make well and that are popular at the restaurant, but in general I just don’t like preparing it.

What’s your favorite dish to make?

Basil Stir Fry!! I eat this everywhere I go when I’m in Thailand.

What’s your favorite pig out food?

Mexican! Everything goes with a margarita…

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

Bravo’s Italian and Linh’s Restaurant.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

Never stop practicing and don’t be afraid to experiment with different foods and cooking methods.

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

1.              Anne Heller (former food critic from Dayton Daily News). She loved my Thai style of country cooking.

2.            Ming Tsai (TV food star, ex-Daytonian). Then I hope he would see what great food and chefs we have here at home.

3.            My wife and her friends. Who doesn’t want to cook for a bunch of beautiful women?

4.            Anyone solely stuck on Chinese food. We need to expand their horizons!

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

TV celebrity chefs – They have great skill, showmanship, and personality. They have the opportunity to reach so many people and expose them to new cultures, food and cooking techniques that they may have otherwise not known about.

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?

I dine at other restaurants in between visiting music stores and pawnshops, searching for that ever-elusive guitar that will make me sound like Van Halen!

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

My kitchen disaster happened during my first ever, live cooking event on Channel 22/45, local Dayton morning news.

I had been waiting patiently for about 20 minutes with my pan on the stove (and the heat on because I could go live any minute). The camera panned my way as the morning anchors Nathan and Asia began to introduce me and the dish I was about to cook. I poured the cooking oil into the hot pan and then….Poof!! The pan caught fire! Smoke was billowing everywhere as the stunned anchors quickly recovered with jokes, “Our station is so hot we’re on fire!” I was able to put out the flames and fan away the smoke even though I was stunned myself.

After regaining a bit of composure, I attempted to cook again. In went the oil and….Poof! Fire and smoke again!!! I wanted to run and hide but thanks to the witty anchors we all made a joke of it and pushed on. I cooked and the camera was able to catch me stirring up stuff, despite the smoky scene….

What became of this? Lots of phone calls to my house, something to add to the station’s blooper reel and most of all a great story to tell people…and video evidence to prove it.

Bahn Mai Thai Cafe is located at 725 Lyons Road in Centerville
(in the same shopping center as Arrow Wine behind Sam’s on 725)

You can visit them for lunch Mon – Fri from 11-2:30pm and dinner Mon – Thurs 5-9pm, and Fri & Sat 5-9:30pm.  They are closed on Sunday. Reservations are not required, but can be made at 937.435.0624.


Pad Kapow (Chicken and Basil Stir Fry)

Photo Courtesy ARC Ohio Dream Cookbook

3 T vegetable or canola oil

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1-5 Thai chili peppers, minced
(the number of peppers depends on your spice level)

7 ounces of chicken (sliced or minced)

1/2 small yellow onion, sliced

1/2 small green bell pepper, sliced

1/2 small red bell pepper, sliced

2 T of oyster sauce

2 T of Golden Mountain brand seasoning sauce

½ T of fish sauce

1 t of white pepper

2 t sugar

1/2 cup of holy basil

Heat frying pan to medium high heat, add vegetable or canola oil.  Sauté garlic and Thai chili peppers together, taking care not to let the garlic burn.  Add chicken and stir fry, constantly stir the contents around to avoid burning.  When chicken looks half cooked add the onions and bell peppers, stir.  Add Oyster and Golden Mountain sauces, stir.  Add fish sauce, white pepper, sugar, stir.  Add he basil leaves and give it a quick stir fry, remove from heat and serve with jasmine scented steamed rice.

Dayton Ballet 2.0: New Music for New Dance Concert

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New Music for New Dance-Dayton Ballet

Every once and a while in life you get to witness a person, or in this case an organization, redeem themselves from the missteps of the past and to be reborn like new. In the case of Dayton Ballet, it highlights a possibly brighter new future for this seventy five year old regional ballet company.  With the New Music for New Dance Concert, Dayton Ballet has finally hit a home run. This dance junkie has hit the mother lode.

After a season that never quite delivered choreographically, this concert came at the right time. How refreshing to see an audience electrified and enthusiastic after a Dayton Ballet performance as opposed to the somber shuffling exit of the audience that one has become accustomed to.

While the program consisted of only three works, the quality of those three works will be what sustains me until the start of the arts season next fall. The intellectual glamour of Dan Karasik’s, Fixed Action, the formalist structure of Cydney Spohn’s Shaded Dimensions and the exuberantly kinetic choreography of Susanne Payne’s Interactions all provided this reviewer with more than enough to feast upon as a addict of dance.

The New Music for New Dance Concert could not have been possible without the generosity of the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation. This is important for several reasons.

This type of philanthropy is unique in that it supports the collaborative process of bringing two art forms together (music and dance) and also for new works in the ballet vernacular. Kudos to the Rosenthal Foundation for being proactive and progressive when it comes to arts funding; we as a community are incredibly grateful.  The community is the beneficiary ultimately, by receiving arts programming that is deserving of high praise.

The New Music for New Dance concert was a competition for the choreographers judged by three outside dance experts. Like the rest of the audience, I selected my favorite piece overall, however there were a lot of positive things to be said about all three works.

First of all, Dayton Ballet has a gem in its midst with Dan Karasik.  I am incredibly biased because I will be working with Dan this summer on a collaborative project, but up until this point I had not seen his work. Our collaboration is based upon the stellar project he pitched to me combined with his infectious energy.  Now that I have seen Fixed Action, I am even more excited about our collaboration this summer.

Fixed Action was first and foremost an intellectual endeavor that was about smart choreographic choices that stretched the ballet vocabulary in confident and textured ways. The circling partnering sections while referencing the themes of the music by Jeff Olmsted with its slight occidental tonal quality, never felt forced or contrived.  He was not trying to re-invent the ballet “wheel” just use it effectively and wisely. He succeeded.

Dan helped give the dancers fluidity by providing torque and twists in their upper bodies.  Two male dancers in particular stood out in his piece. Case Bodamer for his dynamic and expressive dancing and beautiful partnering abilities and Christian Delery for hitting all the right nuanced elements of Dan’s choreography and imbuing the movement with a personal stylistic flair. Also, I have never seen Erika Cole more alive on stage than this concert. She is, and will always be, one of the pleasures of watching this company perform.

Next up was Shaded Dimensions by Cydney Spohn, that more than a few times reminded me of one of my favorite choreographers, Merce Cunningham, and for all of the right reasons.  Referencing in art making is nothing new. If anyone has seen my work of late it is decidedly riddled with references to certain post modern dance practitioners; William Forsythe being at the top of the list.  Because Cydney is the most seasoned of the choreographers presenting, Shaded Dimensions plays with conventions subtly. The most abstract of all three of the works being presented, Shaded Dimensions really required the dancers to possess a nuanced movement quality that is not currently a part of their technique and subsequently the piece may have suffered because of it. This is why it is critical for the company to reinvigorate its movement vocabulary and keep bringing in fresh choreographic talent to challenge the dancers.

Once again Case Bodamer demonstrated why he is a dancer worth watching in the company. A committed performer with the facility and energy to deliver consistently, Case kept my attention through out this nuanced work from Cydney Spohn.

Because of the Merce Cunningham references, namely the slightly weighted off-center balances in arabesque and à la seconde and  grounded running circular patterns, this is the type programming for serious seasoned lovers of dance, not wannabes. Audiences start doing your homework. There will be more on this later in a future article.

Susanne Payne once again proves why she is one the most important art makers in our community.  In her work Interactions, she elevated Dayton Ballet and the dancers to new heights. This was no small feat, for what she brought to the stage was a work that loosened up the dancers in such a way that I saw every performer in a different critical light. She has intertwined an innate intellectual choreographic capability with doses of abstraction and imbued the piece with a humanity and emotional depth. This creation may have forever changed the perception of what Dayton Ballet is capable of artistically.

The two-section piece had a playful joyous energy that rooted and grounded the dancers in the modern dance vocabulary that Susie is mostly known for. Yes ballet dancers can do weighted movement!  And yes, they can even crawl and roll on the floor. It is just a question of it having a purpose and intentionally propelling the choreography forward to a logical conclusion.

The female dancers possessed a fluid confidence that I have not seen previously this season. The men once again lead by Case and Christian, danced with a power and determination and a playfulness that felt genuine and real.

From the grand sweeping circular patterns that propelled the dancers in intricate petite allegro beats and partnered lifts, to the intricate gestural hand and arms, this was a work of epic scale that still stayed within the realm of human dimensions. The duets that referenced unspoken sub-textual needs and emotions that anybody could relate to brought out things in the dancers previously unseen. The beautiful men’s duet section was a joy to behold. Susanne stated that this piece was about pushing the boundaries of the dancers with her choreography; and by doing this she has pushed the boundaries of what this company is capable of as well.

Because this was a choreographic competition, there had to be a winner selected and the judges, like an “arts” version of that big televised music competition whose name shall not be uttered, bestowed the prize on Susanne Payne. But there were multiple winners this evening:

  1. All three choreographers were winners for using this the opportunity to create work and explore new ideas.
  1. The audience finally had a dance concert worth talking about and one that delivered in spades.
  1. Dayton Ballet proved that there is still life and artistic vitality within the organization.

This concert for the first time this season has given me hope for the future of professional dance in Dayton. To see people talking about which pieces were their favorites at all of the intermissions was refreshing and very telling. This was active arts participation, a level of engagement that will lead to people enthusiastically discussing it on Monday at the “water cooler” and to comment on Facebook and Twitter.

I stated in my first review that if the Dayton Ballet delivers this caliber of choreography and new programming that I would do everything in my power as a reviewer to help get the word out.  This was the perfect high note on which to end the season. And I will be talking about this for a long time. Bravo Dayton Ballet!!!

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre – 03/24 – 04/06

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THURSDAY, MARCH 24 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011

Rainbow Bricks

Limestone Bricks: rainbow base painting (Photo Credit: Denise Yvette Serna)

When I wandered into the theatre today, a scenic artist was busily painting a stone wall – with nearly every color of the rainbow, rather than a traditional brick red or tan. The stones looked gorgeous, although not yet like the limestone bricks on the set model. “Real bricks aren’t flat – they’re unique,” she said, explaining her process of basing the bricks with rainbow scumbling, then applying multiple washes to mute the colors but bring out the pigments and bright undertones. However, when the set is complete, audience members will never know just how many layers were essential to make such a realistic stone wall.

So many layers and colors go into every one of these shows, as well. From the sound designer to the box office intern to the actors and directors, shows are necessarily collaborative and layered, to an extreme. Often, we are never aware of these affectations, but each one contributes to the show that we see.

Limestone bricks: completed! (Photo Credit: Denise Yvette Serna)

Likewise, we and the people around us bear the same intricacies and layers. We are products of years of existence and influence; each personal experience has added color to the scumbled wall that is a life. Part of the magic of theatre is its influential power to reflect people; part of that, and of shows in general, illustrates the deep and layered nature of those other human beings around us. It does this not only through the literal act of a show, but also through the subtle things, like the rainbow layers underneath the bricks.

This week, go see one of the following shows. Whether exploring cupcakes, alcoholism, or sex, each one deals in some way with real people, in all of their layers and depth; therefore, through them, we can better understand the people and world around us. You could even take a friend or two to one of the shows below, then discuss it over drinks or dinner afterward. Understand the layers, one at a time.

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

Bill W. and Dr. Bob

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

Bill W & Dr. Bob: DPH

The Story: Bill W. – famous New York stockbroker who loses everything in the 1929 crash, then turns to alcohol – and Dr. Bob Smith – Ohio surgeon who often operates hung over – meet and form a relationship, each helping to keep the other sober. This courageously blunt, uncompromisingly straight forward docu-drama explores the lives of these two men and the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dates: April 1 – 3, 2011 (Season Extra)
Tickets and More Information: 937-424-8477, Dayton Playhouse

The Boys Next Door

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Four emotionally and/or mentally challenged men live together as part of an independent living program; social worker Jack attempts to guide them in their distinct trials and pursuit of a happier life.
Dates: April 1 – 17, 2011
Tickets and More Information: 937-278-5993 or Dayton Theatre Guild

Joseph: PHS

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

The Story: This musical, the first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, explores the Biblical saga of Joseph through an exciting variety of musical styles. The prophetic Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, where he “endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged” as he struggles to survive in a new land and move past his brothers’ betrayal.
Dates: March 25 – April 9, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Playhouse South

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

Pinkalicious!

TOWN HALL THEATRE – LANDMARK CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Photo Credit: Mike Long

The Story: Young Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes, even though her parents and friends warn her to stop. But when she wakes up one morning to discover she has turned bright pink from head to toe, her doctor diagnoses her with Pinkitis. In this adaptation of the beloved children’s book, families see if there can ever be too much of a good thing.
Dates: March 11 – 27, 2011
Tickets: (937) 433-8957
More Information: Town Hall Theatre: Pinkalicious

Part of it All

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Encore Theater Company: Summer Mainstage Season

The Basics: Altar Boyz. In My Blood. Pump up the Volume. The Consequences. In its exciting 2011 season, ETC collaborates with Sinclair Community College and the Human Race Theatre Company to bring Dayton several developing and contemporary musicals throughout the summer.
Auditions: March 27 – 29, 2011 (schedule appointment)
More Information: Encore Theater Company

One Short Day

…SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE THEATRICALLY MINDED

Avenue Q

VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION

The Story: Princeton moves to NYC with bright eyes, big dreams, and a tiny bank account, and ends up on Avenue Q, where everyone is looking for the same things: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Sponsored by Logos@Work, Square One Salon & Spa, and with DaytonMostMetro.com as media sponsor, this national touring production of the sassy, irreverently hilarious puppet show that took Broadway by storm explores the ups and downs of life and “the real world.”
Date: March 30, 2011 – One Night Only!
Tickets: Ticket Center Stage , but they’re almost sold out!
More Information: DMM Feature

~KN