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Archives for July 2010

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

Two-Way Streets Equal All-Way Confusion

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Photo by jamestraceur on flickr

So, if you haven’t noticed, construction crews are busy messing up converting 18 blocks of downtown Dayton’s one-way streets into two-way streets.

Am I the ONLY one who doesn’t like this idea?? (Don’t answer that, no one asked me anyway.)  But seriously.  WHO are they doing this for?  If you already live, work, or frequent downtown Dayton, like moi, then you already know which streets are one-way and you drive accordingly. It’s not that hard.  If you don’t already live, work, or frequent downtown Dayton, GET A MAP or a GPS!  Again, not that difficult.  I mean, were there a HUGE rash of crazy traffic accidents downtown because people didn’t know which side of the street they should be driving on???  If so, there must be a cover-up because as you know the local news around here covers every fender-bender and flat tire in the region.

2nd Street in the good ol' days. *Sniff* Photo by DDFic on flickr

So, my dear City Commissioners or whoever the heck decided this was a good idea – here’s what you have done.  I, Jenny Rapson, a life-long resident of Dayton who drives through downtown several times a week, NO LONGER KNOW WHERE THE HECK I AM GOING.  At 32 years old, I am already set in my ways, and one of my ways was ONE-WAY streets downtown.  Now, we may have a rash of fiery traffic accidents because the routes I have been driving my whole life are now totally different. AND?  MY GPS DOESN’T KNOW IT YET, EITHER!

Let me reiterate: you have confused and irritated the people who were already frequenting downtown.  Good luck luring all those new customers with your shiny two-way streets.  I’m sure your really good idea will work.

I’m just a *smidge* grumpy about the directional street changes downtown.  How do you feel about them?

COOL Soups for a HOT Cause!

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It’s one of the Dayton International Peace Museum’s most delicious annual fundraisers.  Featuring donated cold soups like Gazpacho, Vichyssoise and Ginger Carrot Bisque and freshly baked bread donated by Ashley’s Pastry Shop of Oakwood, they even promise one of the offerings will be vegan.

Over lunch enjoy a very special speaker, Sarina Tacovic, a Centerville High junior, born in Bosnia during the seige of 1992.  She’s just returned from a People to People trip to Europe where she served as a student Ambassador.  She’ll be sharing her experience guiding students through the  Netherlands, Belgium, France and England.

The luncheon takes place Friday, July 30th from 11:30am – 1pm at the Christ Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall located at 20 West First Street, downtown Dayton.  There will be door Prizes and everyone takes home an antique Kuntz bowl from the old Kuntz cafeteria. Tickets are $20 payable upon reservations before July 28th.  Call the Museum at 227-3223 to reserve.

Gilly’s features rock & roll from 3 local bands

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Gilly’s doesn’t often host rock shows, and when they do, it’s cause for great excitement.  This Saturday night is no exception when 3 great local rock bands will take the stage at the venue on the corner of Fifth and Jefferson.  It’s the second show for Floods, the new band we told you about a few weeks ago featuring Tod Weidner (Shrug) and Tim Pritchard (Flyaway Minion).  They’ll be sharing the stage with C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks who’ve been getting great reviews for their weekly pizza parlor gig.  Also on the bill is Me & Mountains, who’s reported to already be working on a followup to their self-titled debut album that was released last month.  The music gets started around 9:30pm, and admission is $5.

Here’s a sampling of music from Me & Mountains and C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks to get you in the mood.


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.

Auburndale prepping new album/show this Saturday

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There’s been a lot of buzz since Auburndale came back from hiatus this winter and began work on a new album.  That album, Alive in the Dying City, is slated for release this fall.

You can hear a preview of the new album as well as an interview and acoustic set with Auburndale from this week’s edition of Kaleidoscope on WYSO.

You can also see Auburndale live this Saturday night at Blind Bob’s with the Sound for Language, Columbus’ Ships in Masses and Segments who are making their live debut.  This 21+ show is $5 and starts around 9pm.

Here’s some video of the band performing on Kaleidoscope earlier this week.

Brunch at Bella Vino

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Start your Saturday morning off with a lazy brunch at Springboro’s neighborhood wine shop.  They open at 10am every Saturday during the summer for Brunch!  Enjoy a selection of pastries from Boosalis Bakery, cheese, and fruit, along with an ever-changing selection of hot entrees – this week it’s Huevos Rancheros with eggs, bacon, spicy sausage, salsa, guacamole, refried beans, and salsa.

Brunch is only $15, and includes your choice of a Mimosa, Bellini, or ZingZang Bloody Mary (ask for the house made bacon-infused vodka in yours).  Kids under twelve eat for just $8.

And while you’re there you can pick up  some wine for dinner or the latest import beers.  And be sure and checkout their quaint private dining room- just perfect for a small wine tasting or luncheon for 16.  Looking for a unique gift?  Ask them about a custom wine label!

495 N. Main Street
Springboro, OH 45066
(741 and Tamarack, between Austin Rd. and SR 73)
937-748-3807

Griffin House to perform in Springfield, on WYSO

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Springfield native Griffin House has been getting a lot of attention.  He was featured on the Huffington Post and as one of CBS’ Emerging Artists.  This weekend, he’ll be back in his hometown to perform at a special event at the Wescott House on Saturday night.  Wright Now is a showcase of innovation in art and design and House will perform accompanied by the Now Device, a multimedia production company founded by fellow Springfield native Rod Hatfield whose work you may have experienced as part of the FilmDayton Festival this spring. Full information about the Wright Now event is available here.

House will also be stopping by the WYSO studios on Friday morning for a live performance and interview with Niki Dakota, host of Excursions.  Tune in to 91.3FM at 11am or listen online at wyso.org

Here’s a music video of House’s newest song “Head for the Hills.”

Bonneville unveils Drawing Maps

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This Friday will be your first chance to get a copy of Bonneville’s first full length album, Drawing Maps.  It’s more polished album overall than the band’s previous EPs and shows that this foursome has grown up a lot since their days playing together in junior high.

Here’s the title track:

You can pick up your very own copy and check out Bonneville live at their CD release party Friday night at Canal Street Tavern.  They’ll be joined onstage by Orange Willard with Michael Shoup opening.  The show is 18+ and costs $5.

Summer Fun for Kids: Wegerzyn Children’s Garden

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DSC04384Two years ago, my kids and I discovered the fun that is the Children’s Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark.  Located on Siebenthaler Ave., this Metropark offers not only a gorgeous display of glorious gardens, but a real opportunity for your kids to play, learn, and have fun!  The Discovery Garden features a world of water play – there’s a man-made safe wading creek and fun waterfall.

DSC04407

There’s also a man-made cave to chase your friends (or your sister) through:

laughing at brother

The fun is completed with sand pits and tables to learn how to plant plants in, a play house, a musical maze, and so many more ways to have fun at the Children’s Discovery Garden. It’s a great place for a playdate and to take a picnic lunch. My kids and I love it there – head over to their website and check it out!

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.

Where Am I – July 21, 2010

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The answer to Where Am I – July 14, 2010: Eastwood MetroPark. The photo is of the lagoon.

The Lake held two functions: one was to provide water recreation for the community and also to help protect the city’s water supply by acting as a recharge basin for the aquifer.

It’s a beautiful park with some of the best recreational options in Dayton Ohio: Power boats, sailboats, kayaking, fishing, picnicing, and a popular bike trail. Mountain Days is held there every summer with some nationally known traditional, bluegrass, and country music acts. Check the calendar, here.

Highlights of Eastwood MetroPark include a 185-acre lake, Mad River, picnic shelters and a playground. The 3-mile loop trail offers hiking opportunities on mostly level terrain. Try fishing in Eastwood Lake or the Blue Lake or the Mad River. Bring the family and the boat out to Eastwood MetroPark for a fun-filled day on the water, or just enjoy a serene sojourn on the trails.

This week’s Where Am I?:

Hint: Lampyridae

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.