Dayton937

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

Archives for June 2011

Dine Out With Dad and Give Back

By Leave a Comment

It’s always a treat when El Meson opens up on Sunday for their award winning brunch.  Not only will they be celebrating Father’s Day on June 19th, but diners will have a chance to designate a portion of the cost of their meal to one of 3 local non-profits. “We’ve  always wanted to give back to the community and to the services that make Dayton special and unique. As an independent restaurant, we feel that by supporting the local non-profit treasures we will all benefit says manager Bill Castro.” This will be the 3rd annual Sunday of Giving and this year the Castro family has chosen The Human Race Theatre Company, For Love of Children (FLOC) , & Circles a progam aimed at “ending poverty one family a time” to participate in this Sunday’s Day of Caring.

The buffet will include:

Steak Encebollado – Beef Tenderloin Medallions smothered with tomatoes & Onions
Surtido del Mar – Fish, Shrimp, Scallops, & Crab sautéed with tomato, onion, peppers, &cilantro
Pollo de los Andes- Boneless Chicken with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, & cheese Fusilli Pasta with Pesto Sauce, Asparagus, Pinenuts, & Parmesan Cheese
Egg & Cheese Omelet       /          Chorizo & Cheese Omelet
Spanish Rice     /  Mahon Cheese Potatoes    /   Torta de Elote (corn cake)
Jamaican Jerk Cabbage Salad   / Salad with Mango Vinaigrette  / Tropical Fruit Salad
Assorted  Banana & Orange Bread / Cranberry Bread w/ butter

Dessert:  Dulce de Leche con Moras-      –  Homemade caramel and blackberries   

Their will also be a special  kids buffet that includes a Burrito Bar: Seasoned Beef , Shredded Chicken, Rice, Beans, Cheese, Salsa, & Tortillas

The buffet will be served from 11am – 2pm and costs $28 per adult. Children 12 and under  are $12, 6 and under  are free.  Of every adult meal purchased $10 will be donated to the non-profit of the customer’s choice. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling  937-859-8229.

Behind the Masks – The Lion King

By Leave a Comment

Disney’s The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Nick Cordileone & Ben Lipitz

Disney’s THE LION KING

The Victoria Theatre Association

I have a confession to make:  I, Shane Anderson, admittedly know very little about The Lion King.  In fact, I know very little about most of the Disney films and musical adaptations.  I’ve certainly seen some, but I have no children of my own, therefore I typically don’t choose to spend my entertainment budget on a movie ticket to a film marketed to kids.  I get it…I get it… I hear that they are terrific for anybody at any age, but I don’t have that added motivation of a really excited 5 year old persuading me to go catch the latest Disney princess or talking/singing animal movie.

Characters from Disney's Lion King, as interpreted by Noah, age 5

The Lion King mask illustration by Noah, age 5

So, since I am not the Disney aficionado that many Americans are, I had to do a little research about Disney’s THE LION KING, which just rolled into town and opened at the Schuster Center this evening.  So what else was I to do?  I called up my favorite nephew, 5 year old Noah.

First bit of information I needed, was what is the plot of this show? Noah replied with a knowing smile (did I sense the slightest amount of a smirk at his silly Uncle Shane?) that THE LION KING is all about this baby lion named Simba, who’s daddy Mufasa dies because of a bad lion named Scarrrr (grrrRR..!), then the Pumbaa and Timon (not sure which is which, but one is a warthog with big horns) come in and sing Hakuna Matata and then Simba gets big and the girl lion tells Simba to come back and be king.  Oh, and be careful of the 3 Hyenas, they laugh.

Ok, stay clear of the laughing Hyenas.  Of course I already knew a little bit about this classic musical adaptation, it is a legendary production that very successfully melded together a very cool artistic vision with the business sense of a major corporate producer.  I know that it was directed by the very talented Julie Taymor.  I realize that even though the musical premiered on Broadway nearly fourteen years ago,  it is still selling tickets both on the “Great White Way” and in multiple touring companies.  This collaboration between a truly gifted artist and a major corporate entity has been highly successful, with no signs of slowing down.  I knew all of that, but this is one highly acclaimed Broadway spectacle that I have yet to experience, and I am thrilled that the show will be spending four weeks right here in Dayton, Ohio!

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ben Roseberry

I got the opportunity to spend some time chatting with three cast members of the show on the phone last week.  The cast was in Toronto, Canada, where they had an extended stay.  I spoke with vocal ensemble member and “Sarabi” understudy Electra Weston, Ben Roseberry who portrays “Ed” the laughing hyena, and the ever-popular Ben Lipitz who livens up the stage as “Pumbaa”  the optimistic warthog.

I asked the group of actors about touring with Disney Theatricals, working with Taymor and what the experience is like in a production that thrills audiences of all ages.

The first thing of note is the appreciation the actors express for the company itself.  “It is the best contract I’ve ever worked for,” Roseberry declares, “we are in each city for four weeks or more.” All three of the actors pointed out the fact that through Disney’s intention to keep the company in a city for an extended run of at least four weeks, allows the actors time to settle in and actually experience each city. Most other touring shows will have shorter runs, some as little as a day in each city, which leave the actors living out of their suitcase.  Roseberry, an aviation enthusiast, says that he is very excited to have time in Dayton to explore the Aviation Trail, Hall of Fame and Wright Brother sites.

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Electra Weston

A surprise to me was the fact that the touring company has the opportunity to make their own housing arrangements, some choosing extended stay hotels, others are able to find short-term furnished apartments.  Electra Wilson indicated that in her four years on the tour, she’d never stayed in a hotel.  She ships her bicycle and typically manages to find an apartment within biking distance to the venue.  This gives her the opportunity to become a member of the community, if only for a short time.

I was curious to know more about the experience of being onstage for these actors, what it was like to be on the other side of the curtain.  The technical aspects of performing the show utilizing these puppets and intricate scenic elements must certainly be an incredible thing to watch not only from the audience perspective, but also from backstage.

All three actors found their roles very taxing, but for very different reasons.  Weston says that her most difficult transition into the role was the English language. She had previously been a part of the German company of the show, so even though she is American, she found it difficult to sing her parts in English.  She had to relearn the show in her native tongue, and had a tough time doing so!

“I can’t say it’s a bigger thrill than what the audience is experiences, but it certainly is comparable.” says Ben Lipitz, ” Performing in The Lion King is a rare experience in theatre, it is a landmark event for the audience, as a performer I have to take the storytelling very seriously.  We have a responsibility to live up to the expectations [of the audience].  It is a privilege to tell this story”

“It took a good eight weeks of performing for the role to get in my body.” Roseberry said he was very nervous performing in his “Ed” the hyena puppet for the first several weeks he was on tour.  He pointed out that he had to learn to harness that nervous energy, translating it into a good energy.  Additionally he spent hours in front of a mirror learning how to operate the hyena puppet in as many expressive ways as possible, since the character does not speak, but simply communicates through laughter.  (btw…”Ed” is not “stupid”, but rather he is “verbally challenged”)

Ben Lipitz has been with the show for nine years, both on Broadway as well as the touring company.  He recounted that while his very first entrance on stage in this show was very exciting, that the thrill continues to this day.  Ben’s experience as an actor (on stage, film & television, including a role on The Sopranos) didn’t really prepare him for operating the puppet, especially Pumbaa which weighs in heaviest at 46 pounds.  Creating the physical articulation with the puppet is his biggest challenge, but also the biggest reward.

Disney's The Lion King ~ presented by The Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OH ~ June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ben Lipitz

The beauty of Julie Taymor’s design is the duality of the character on stage.  You see the actor manipulating the puppet, but you also see the humanity within the animal character.  The actors praise the brilliance of Taymor’s vision and her famous “hands-on” approach to direction an upkeep of her vision.  They report that there is a touring director and staff that continually monitor the show, maintaining the quality of the performance.  This team works with the cast so that what we see in Dayton is precisely the same as the original intent of every step, word and note performed when Julie Taymor’s vision became reality in 1997.  Taymor will even  stop in to check on the show herself occasionally to be sure that her vision is never compromised (though this hasn’t happened recently due to her involvement in another theatrical project).

“I have been truly touched by how inspiring working with Julie is,” claims Lipitz, “[it is] her spirit and her energy.  She is a gifted, visionary artist.”

While THE LION KING is a very complex machine of a show, with many moving parts and people manipulating every aspect of it, it is also child’s play.  Experiencing this show on our side of the curtain will certainly be exciting, but imagine how thrilling it must be to make it all happen behind the scenes.  These actors spoke as if it was truly an honor to tell this story, and be a part of the magic daily.

Before I got off the phone with Pumbaa, I had one more question I was required to ask.  Noah wanted to know “what do you do with your horns?” Pumbaa claimed that his daily regimen included trying not to stay up too late, staying out of the sunlight and plenty of moisturizer.  Pretty good advice for all you warthogs reading this.

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Disney's THE LION KING - Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OhioDisney’s THE LION KING

Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, July 10, 2011

at The Schuster Center’s Mead Theatre – Performance Times Vary

Tickets range from $27 – $141

Tickets are ONLY available through Ticket Center Stage.

Visit the  Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or order by phone, at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association visit www.victoriatheatre.com.

Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Victoria Theatre Association have teamed up to provide roaring deals and promotions for the The Lion King patrons.  Read more about these exiting offers HERE.

The Lion King - ROARING DEALS - Dayton, Ohio

Click for details.

Sing it Strong, Sing it Loud

By Leave a Comment

Altar Boyz

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

The quintessential Boy Bands: upbeat (and often emotional) music… slick choreography… the perfect individual and group images… slightly-too-perfect rhymes… the Soul Sensor DX-12? Well, maybe not for any other boy band, but for the Altar Boyz, it’s key! During the final concert of their “Raise the Praise” tour, the Boyz seek to reduce the number of burdened souls in the audience (indicated by the number on the Sensor) to zero.

“Jesus called me on my cell phone / No roaming charges were incurred / He told me that I should go out in the world / And spread His glorious word”

Altar Boyz, presented in real time as that concert, is a satirical, “foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy,” and the fictitious Christian boy band includes five Ohio members: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham (who, actually, is Jewish). Some of the Boyz’ signature hits include “Rhythm in Me,” “The Calling,” and “I Believe.” Directed and choreographed by Lauren Morgan and musically directed by Mark Barnhill, this Dayton premiere kicks off Encore Theater Company’s summer season, and runs for one weekend only, June 16 – 18.

“We think that church is super fine / We are the Altar Boyz / We love the wafers and the wine / We are the Altar Boyz / And I think / You’ll find….. We’re gonna altar your mind!”

This show is unique in that each cast member must be a triple-strength performer, because everyone is acting, singing, and dancing for nearly the entire show! Therefore, learning the show has been hard work, but the actors I spoke with were excited about the challenges they’ve faced and the strides they’ve taken as performers. The cast includes students and/or Dayton residents Drew Bown, Andrew Koslow, Korey Harlow, Zack Steele, and Zach King, with a special appearance by local Muse Machine alumnus and Broadway performer Tyler Maynard as “the Voice of God.”

“When I hold your body next to mine / it feels so good / and feels so right / and it also makes my Levis feel real tight… / and I know that there is something about you, baby…/ Girl, you make me want to wait.”

Not only does the cast play a great team onstage, but everyone has an excellent collaboration as well. Each of the cast members are or have studied some type of theatre at the collegiate level, and most are new to Encore Theater Company’s mainstage; however, they’ve all contributed unique talents and abilities to make this show strong and fluid, to refine timing of the show’s extensive humor and rehearse even the most difficult 5-part harmonies. Koslow, who plays Mark, explained in an interview with onStageDayton,

Andrew Koslow, "Mark"

“The most rewarding thing for me about this show is how much we’ve truly banded together (pardon the pun) to make this show happen. We’ve run into a thousand road blocks, from losing cast members to sometimes only having two Boyz available for certain rehearsals due to commitments to other shows. Despite all that, we’ve put together an incredible and entertaining show… I truly couldn’t be prouder of our entire cast and production team.”

That commitment and collaboration have paid off: Zack Steele, who plays Juan, praises,

Zach Steele, "Juan"

“[Altar Boyz] will have [audience members] crying from laughing so hard. The script is bulletproof and the Boyz’ chemistry on stage will carry you on a journey all the way through curtain call. The singing is great and the satire is ever-present.”

Koslow added,

“I truly believe there is something for everyone in this show, and no one can prove me wrong unless they come and see for themselves.”

“You know The Bible tells you God’s the one that made you / So get out on the dance floor And shake what He gave you!”

So, whether you’re holding onto music of the early ‘90s or just love to make fun of boy bands, Altar Boyz is the perfect show for you. Don’t miss it!

Tickets & Performance Information

Altar Boyz – June 16 – 18, 8:00 pm

Encore Theater Company

Performances will be held at Sinclair Community College’s Blair Hall Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved through http://brushfire.e-vent.info/Events/Sinclair/Default.aspx, by contacting (937) 512-2808 (be sure to leave a message) or [email protected]

For more information, check out the Altar Boyz blog or Encore Theater Company.

~KN

The Independent Shadow Cinema – Underground No More

By 1 Comment

Zombies, Lesbian Vampires and Mexican Wrestlers..Oh My!


Having grown up nurtured by Dr. Creep on Shock Theater, fighting sleep while watching the dusk to dawn horror fests at the Captain Kidd and Belmont Drive-In Theaters and relishing the peculiarities found at the bottom of bargain bins full of obscure DVDs, I felt an immediate understanding of what he is trying to create with the Independent Shadow Cinema. Andy himself is quite an accomplished aficionado within  the world of the weird, having worked with Dr. Creep, being one of the people behind the annual Horrorama charity film festival and directing six of his own horror genre films, including The Mutilation Man, The Atrocity Circle and Black Sun.

While other people may look down their collective noses at people like us for being drawn towards entertainment that they would deem sophomorically disgusting or visual training manuals for psychopaths, we know that those kind of people are eaten first by the zombie hordes, usually in a humorous manner, thus stripping them not only of their flesh, but also their self deluded decorum.

What Andy Copp is trying to bring to the screen, as well as to the darkened streets of Dayton, is a world unseen by the masses. A world of the uncanny, the unbridled, the uninhibited. A world shown is a series of stroboscopic scenes splashed with copious amounts of arterial red. With the Independent Shadow Cinema, Andy is trying to breathe life into the self indulgently dying corpse of local cinema and allowing it, for a moment, to live within the minds of an audience hungering for visions of the weird and wonderful.

J.T.: I guess the first question would be: What was the impetus to start the Independent Shadow Cinema?
Andy: Well, the idea came out of me wanting to do the old school midnight movies that I grew up going to. The ones like Flicker Palace had years ago and Page Manor had back in my college days. There hasn’t been anything like that in a long time and back in the nineties, I worked at the Neon Movies as one of the managers back before the switchover and I brought in a lot of movies from Hong Kong and things like that and they were really successful. I realized that there was an audience for it here in town, but there was nothing catering to that right now and there hasn’t been since I had done it in the nineties. I’m also one of the guys that run Horrorama (Horrorama is a charity movie marathon that has been active since 1997) and we have a dedicated audience here in town that comes to that event every year. Since I had worked with Englewood Cinema with Horrorama, I approached Mike who runs things there and presented the idea of running underground midnight movies and he said, “Well, let’s try to do this then” and so we went ahead and launched it. So we went for it, trying to bring more interesting movies that you’re not going to see anywhere else, like the old midnight pulp movie shows, and to give the people something interesting to do on Friday nights.

J.T.: Are you targeting more of the grind house/horror show genre?
Andy: A little bit. Right now, what I’m doing is I’m bringing in a lot of the really obscure, indie/underground stuff, but the people who are interested in that type of thing are also going to be interested in the grind house/exploitation films and people who like that are going to like the stuff that we’re currently playing. The stuff that we’re playing right now is pretty obscure and relatively unknown, but definitely, that’s the crowd we’re going for.

J.T.: What do you have coming up for the next show?
Andy: On Friday, we have a movie that was made in 2000 called Meatmarket and it’s a zombie flick…actually, it’s a really wild zombie flick. It’s got everything. It’s got zombies, lesbian vampires, Mexican wrestlers and things blowing up. It’s a movie that aims to please. It was made in Canada for just under $2,000. It’s incredibly low budget, but you wouldn’t know that by watching it because the production values are really high. That’s the kind of stuff that we’ve been showing: the stuff that’s made for peanuts, but that are incredibly ambitious.

J.T.: What’s the main message that you want to get out?
Andy: That we’re here and that we’re doing something different. In Dayton, there’s always this grumbling that there’s nothing interesting going on; “Oh, Dayton doesn’t have anything cool or different!” but here we are on Friday nights with these kick ass, interesting movies that you probably haven’t heard of that are definitely satisfying. For five bucks, you can see some wicked ass movie that will leave you feeling satisfied. Also, the way I have structured it, there’s always a free movie, a second feature, and I never say what it is so it’s always going to be a surprise. So, from 11:30pm until 2:30am, you get two crazy movies for five bucks.

J.T.: Now, with most people’s experiences of midnight movies is limited to Rocky Horror Picture Show, are there people that show up with a certain amount of misconceptions?
Andy: Right! This isn’t Mystery Science Theater 3K or Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’m not inviting people to come and yell and throw things and make fun of these films…that’s not our thing. This is to come and appreciate something unusual and have a good time. I don’t want this to be Troll 2. These are genuinely interesting movies, so if people are coming to make fun of them, I’m not so interested in them being there, but if they are there to find something that they have never seen or experienced, then those are the people we are looking for. Also, with the more people that we can get to come out, the more crazier and bigger movies that we’ll be able to bring in. There’s a whole world of these types of movies that just don’t make it to Dayton. The Gateway in Columbus plays new movies like this every Saturday night. If we raised our audience numbers, we’d be able to get movies like Hobo With A Shotgun or The Troll Hunter…we just can’t afford those right now.

The next Independent Shadow Cinema event is scheduled for Friday June 17th at 11:00pm at the Englewood Cinemas, 320 West National Rd, Englewood, Ohio and will feature the zombie movie Meatmarket along with an as yet to be announced second feature.

Jane’s Best Bets (6/15 – 6/19)

By Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

After two weeks free of Jane’s Best Bets, you may have thought that you had successfully gotten rid of me (and my dumb jokes).  Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is not the case.  Here is a listing of some events going on this week, including the opening of The Lion King. Speaking of lions, let’s go ahead and get to the “mane” events!

On Wednesday, bring out your creative side with Creative Card Making at the Dayton Art Institute.  For those of you thinking of starting your own business, make your way to The Entrepreneurs Center for their New Business Information Session.  At the Fraze, enjoy the Austrian Festival Spass Nacht…which is absolutely free!  Listen to Jazz on the Green at Yankee Trace Golf Club.  And finally, I’m not “lion” to you when I tell you that you don’t want to miss Disney’s The Lion King, which is being performed at the Schuster Center.  (It is being performed through July 10th, so even if you don’t get to see it this week, you’ll still have an opportunity!)

On Thursday, all you gardening gurus can put your talents to good use at Riverscape as part of RiverScape Gardeners.  I’m definitely not in that crop.  Instead of planting my own garden, I’d prefer to get vegetables at the grocery or at a place like Centerville Farmers Market, located at Centerville Shopping Center.  If you are all about networking and live up north (or don’t mind making your way up there), attend ‘Be An Exceptional Presenter’, which is a free networking event featuring Gary Mull as the guest speaker at Club 55.  At the Dayton Art Institute, attend the Twilight Concert (not to be confused with that Twilight vampire series, which I am still clueless about).  Let your hair down (or put your hair back) and head to La Comedia to see the popular musical Hair Spray.  Or go to Veteran’s Park Amphitheater for Annie Get Your Gun.  And if you feel like singing yourself, make your way to Champps for Karaoke Thursdays.

The Fabulous Menus!

On Friday, all live music lovers will want to attend the Ole’ Tyme Music Festival at Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village.  If you’re not there, then I order you to catch one of my favorite bands, The Menus, as they play at Sharkey’s.  Beer lovers should make plans to attend the 6th International Beer Fest at Jungle Jim’s.  At Fifth Third Field, watch as the Dragons take on the Lansing Lugnuts.  And if you want to experience theater, be sure to get your tickets to see Hair Spray at La Comedia, Annie Get Your Gun at Veterans Memorial Park, Disney’s The Lion King at the Schuster Center, or The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show at The Loft Theatre

On Saturday, visit Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Birthday Party/Open House, which will include FREE classes, live music, mini-massages, and much more!  Don’t know how to bake but love to decorate?  Consider heading to Ele Cake Company and decorate a cake for your dad for their Father’s Day DYO Cake.  It’s picnicking season, so find out about Healthy Picnic Foods at PNC 2nd Street Market.  While downtown, you’ll also be able to participate in the Kayak Float/Ride the River Rentals at RiverScape and then later listen to the sounds of Bonneville as part of the Free Summer Concert Series.  All you 80s music lovers should go go to the Fraze to catch the GoGo’s and the B-52’s as part of Mix 107.7 Summerfest.  I just couldn’t keep my lips sealed about that one.  If you would prefer to stay inside, then catch one of these shows:  Disney’s The Lion King (Schuster Center), Hair Spray (La Comedia), or Annie Get Your Gun (Veterans Memorial Park).  And if you want to get groovin’, head to Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village for the Ole’ Tyme Music Festival.

On Sunday, be sure to wish the fathers you know a Happy Father’s Day.  Several places will be offering brunch, including the Dayton Woman’s Club (I find that kind of ironic), Boulevard Haus, Blind Bob’s, or the Dublin Pub.  Afterwards, take your dad to watch the Dragons play the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth-Third Field.  And if he likes doing outdoor activities, take him to RiverScape where there will be Ride the River Rentals.

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

What do you call a show full of lions?

The mane event.

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!

Homecoming for ‘Captain Blue’

By 3 Comments

What in the blue blazes would prompt someone to endure backpacking in scorching temperatures and frequent deluges? Better ask local hiking enthusiast Andy Niekamp. You’ll have the opportunity to do so Wednesday, June 15, when he completes his hike of the entire Buckeye Trail, a 1,444-mile journey looping through Ohio.

Andy Niekamp will complete his 1,444-mile hike of the Buckeye Trail on June 15 at Deeds Point MetroPark. Photo courtesy Andy Niekamp.

Niekamp has been hiking since his Boy Scout days, tackling such terrain as the 7,400-mile Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath that runs through fourteen states from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. He has been awarded three “2,000 miler” certificates by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, recognition conferred on hikers who have completed the entire trail. Last year alone, he logged nearly 1,600 miles of backpacking on 16 different trips in 15 states.

The Buckeye Trail, which is the longest circular trail in the country, is a new challenge for Niekamp. “Hiking the Buckeye Trail is about discovering Ohio. It is not a wilderness experience. It is about learning Ohio’s history. It is about the people of Ohio,” he writes in his blog, outlining his trip. “It is a journey around Ohio on trails and roads in both rural and urban areas. Hiking the Buckeye Trail is about the people, the places, the present and the past.”

Photo courtesy Andy Niekamp. Discover Ohio's past, present and future along the Buckeye Trail.

Marked with “blue blazes” along the volunteer-maintained trail, the Buckeye Trail reaches all four corners of the state. It passes through several MetroParks (Eastwood, Deeds Point, Island, Taylorsville and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks), running with the North Country National Scenic Trail. You can learn more about this 4,600-mile trail stretching across seven states from North Dakota to New York at the annual conference that takes place right here in Dayton August 11-14!

The public is invited to welcome Niekamp, who started his journey on the Buckeye Trail from Dayton on March 20, as he wraps up his hike at Deeds Point MetroPark on June 15. If you want to be part of the action and hear Niekamp’s experiences, head to Eastwood MetroPark at 3:00 p.m. on the Buckeye Trail/Mad River bike path near the bridge in the parking lot farthest from Harshman Road. Finish the hike with Niekamp around 4:00 p.m. and be rewarded with a reception at the Five Rivers MetroParks office at 224 N. Saint Clair St. (There will be cake and ice cream!)

Photo curtesy Andy Niekamp. Encounter nature as you hike the Buckeye Trail!

Getting inspired to get out and hike? Why not join a group of friendly folks who will keep you motivated? Niekamp is the founder and leader of the Dayton Hikers group, Dayton’s largest and most active hiking group. You’ll be in the company of about 500 members who take advantage of the group’s variety of day hike and backpacking trips. You can also get outside and enjoy the nearly 175 miles of trail available at any MetroPark. Why not check out an upcoming fitness and health program? It doesn’t matter what your skill level, intensity or frequency with which you hike, just as long as you get out and live!

Olive An Urban Dive Sets Opening!

By 2 Comments

If you’ve been following the saga of Olive, An Urban Dive,  which owner Kimberly Collett has bloggesd about honestly and openly on facebook,  has finally set an opening date.  And while that date is about 6 months later than predicted, Collett has used that time to create a legion of fans  (close to 1100 at last look) and supporters that have never even tasted their food.  Pretty amazing use of facebook, huh?  And credit Collett with another brilliant business move- she put tickets on sale for a week of preview dinners a couple of months ago and sold out every ticket for a then undetermined date.

local over import, labor over convenience and service over everything else.

And now after building and rebuilding, fighting one zoning issue after another, Dive into Olive week has been set for the last week of June for those who hold those sold out tickets.  The general public will get their first chance to dine at the new eatery for lunch the week of July 5th. The former Wympee diner will seat 30 or so inside and has added a patio in the back for another 15.  Menu’s will include vegan and gluten-free items and their facebook has promised Olive will have nary a can in the kitchen.  They’ve spent the spring sourcing local foods and and making friends, and now we wish them the best of luck as they start feeding all the friends they’ve cultivated!

Music Video Monday: June 13, 2011

By Leave a Comment

Ah, Monday the 13th….day of…..looking forward to great music this weekend.

The weekend kicks off with a great lineup at Blind Bob’s.  Cincinnati’s Great Young Hunters will join three great local bands onstage: Ape the Ghost, which features members of Sleepybird, We Were Animals, which features members of Ed Vs. Radio, and Oh Condor, the new name for 8-bit Revival. In honor of their re-naming and this weekend’s show, our music video 8-bit Revival performing at Blind Bob’s last spring courtesy of The Music Seen.  Full details about this weekend’s show are available at the Dayton MostMetro Events Calendar. Don’t forget to post your events there as well!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7pTduIi3g’]

Tapas Tuesday At Hawthorn Grill

By Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already since Chef/owner Candace Rinke opened the doors of the  Hawthorn Grill on  Stroop Road in Kettering.  Being a restaurateur has been her dream since she won a blue ribbon on the county fair for “Best Drcorated Cake.” She’s come a long way since then, but her flair for decoration is still evident in her plate presentations at the eatery.  During this first year, she’s been trying and adjusting the menu and hours to be responsive to what her guests want.  They currently serve dinner Tues- Thurs from 5-9pm and Fr & Sat from 5-10pm.  On  Friday you can enjoy lunch from 11:30am – 2pm.

This Tuesday will be the debut of Tapas Tuesday at the Grill.   Here’s a sneak peak at the menu:

Traditional Garlic Shrimp
Sautéed Shrimp (3) with Garlic, Parsley and Sherry, 6

Pork Lollipops
Homemade Sausage Kebobs (3) Glazed with Apricot Rosemary Mustard Sauce, 5

Baked Chicken & Comté
Homemade Chicken Confit & Imported Comté Cheese Baked to Golden Brown, Served with Toast Points, 6

Crispy Artichoke Hearts
Hand-Battered Artichoke Hearts (4) served with Skordalia, 5

Marinated Olives
Kalamata and Green Olives Marinated in Garlic, Rosemary & Fennel, Pepperoncini Peppers, 5

And to wash it all down try some homemade Raspberry-Peach Sangria-Red Wine with Hints of Citrus, Peach Slices and Raspberries, Served Over Ice with a Splash of Soda.

If Tapas isn’t your thing, you may want to visit Hawthorn Grill on Thursday, which is all-you-can-eat rib night, served with baked beans and slaw for $16.99

RTA Talks Back

By Leave a Comment

G'bye, bus! I barely knew thee. But I'm sure we'll meet again.

Provide your feedback to RTA by taking their strategic plan questionnaire. They want info from riders AND non-riders to improve their service.

Thanks to everyone who offered comments, advice and recommendations on the best way to bus and/or bike to get around Dayton! I really appreciate all the support. I had a great last day – bike/bus combo to work, bike to meeting, bus to event up north, bike the AWESOME trail from Wegerzyn to Riverscape and catch a night bus home. And finally – on my last day – I felt as if I had a solid grip on a lot of it.  I recommend that you consider giving up the car for a trip or two and seeing how it works out for you.

Now that this little adventure is over, I think about how I may go car-less in the future. And again, strategy and choice are two concepts that keep coming up. Would I take the bus to/from work? I think so – especially with my bike on board. Would I try the bus for a night out? Sure – cheap transportation to the city and I can always cab it home if it’s a late night. Would I allow the bus schedule to affect something like grocery shopping? Most definitely not. Is my bike a viable option for a work commute or errands? I think it can be. As I get better at this, it’s likely that my routine could blend better with the routes/schedules and it wouldn’t be so challenging. So, that said – I’m what you’d call a consumer of “choice.” I don’t have to ride the bus, but when it makes sense for me, I can choose it.

Find the right pass for your needs

I started out this little adventure with some concerns about negative aspects I’d heard about RTA. And overall, there was a mix of myths busted and confirmed. Is the bus limited in area? Although some have lamented the lack of a bus that goes to the airport (a valid concern), for my purposes, the routes went everywhere I needed to go. Is the bus dangerous? I never felt threatened or scared. Some experiences were uncomfortable (when strangers – emphasis on strange -strike up a conversation) but never dangerous, even on my evening rides. Is the bus difficult to navigate? This is a mixed bag. It’s tough in the beginning to get a grasp on how the routes work and the best places to get on and off and what buses to take. But that’s life and with experience, it gets a lot easier. It’s also a little frustrating that if you miss one bus the whole schedule may be thrown off, but that’s a personal challenge. As people advised in the comments – you’ve got to get there early enough to not miss the bus. Is the bus expensive? Well – it depends. I have a fairly easy commute, so on an average day with a few errands, I may use about $6 in gas. If I were to bus everywhere, it would cost about $5.75 if I paid cash ($1.75/ride + $0.25 transfer). But, a monthly pass for unlimited usage is only $55 (less than $2/day), a weekly pass is $19  (less than $3/day) and you can purchase a 10-pack of tokens for $1.50 each. So – the value is really based on how much you use it. If you don’t want to deal with parking or the dangers of drinking and driving, is a bus to the city for a festival cheaper than a cab? Heck yeah – that’s value.  Is it worth it to take the bus to run numerous errands on a day? Maybe not.

So, that’s MY opinion on some of the myths I heard before I started. But I wanted to reach out to RTA to seek some official thoughts on what I experienced, the comments you posted throughout the week, plans for the future of RTA, and any recommendations on what I could have done for an easier week.  I spoke to Sabrina Pritchett, the Marketing Manager for Greater Dayton RTA for her thoughts.

First things first – some of the issues readers brought up:

Q: I ran into some issues with the trip planner and there were some concerns expressed in our comment section. Can you provide recommendations to make it easier or is there a possibility it may be changing?
It’s a great question because it is a continuing issue. The one thing about the trip planner – we’ve all be really conditioned with Google to be specific. Ours is the opposite – you want to be as general as possible. If you do that, it will give you consistent results each time. The trip planner will give you choices that fit your selection. Do not use the quick planner – the expanded version provides better results.
In terms of the Google trip planner, that is something we are looking at as an agency to be able to implement. It is our hope we may be able to implement in the future, but there’s no timeline on that.
Q: Would RTA go to the airport?
We survey, survey, survey our customers on a regular basis and we just haven’t gotten a lot of requests for that. It has been something that has been discussed, but it’s not anything that really has registered with our customers or even non-customers when we survey.

Q: One of the concerns I’ve heard is the long wait time in between buses – for example, the challenges that arise if you miss a transfer and have to wait a long time before the next bus. Is there a recommendation you have for riders to overcome this? Do you see this changing at all in the future?
When I think about bus riding in most mid-sized cities, it’s a partnership experience. When you’re driving, you manage that process on your own. When you’re riding the bus, you need to be mindful of your schedule. The bus can’t veer off of the route because there may be a back-up in traffic. So, the bus doesn’t have that kind of flexibility – it has those time points to meet. Especially if you’re taking the bus during off-peak hours. When you’re talking about off-peak it can be especially challenging when you do miss the bus.
Because of the economy and the funding cuts at the state level, we cannot add additional service. We had more service and new service that was going to be implemented in June, but it got cut.  When those cuts happen in funding, it really does adversely affect the kind of service we can offer on the street. We’re not seeing anything in the immediate horizon in which we’ll be able to add service. We’ve been very creative to adjust existing service so we could address some of the requests we’ve gotten from customers to go to new areas and service new businesses. Even though we haven’t been able to add new service, we’ve tried to work to augment what we have.
And a few questions based on my experience:

Q: I appreciate you letting me learn through trial and error this week. But were there any experiences that I had over the week that you would have been able to correct or provide better information when I ran into a challenge?
If I were a new customer, the first thing I would do would be very familiar with my schedule and my route. As a choice rider, you may find you may not be able to take the bus everyday, but it could work 3 days a week and work very well for you. Our schedules are very precise and very detailed and available online – so use them. Second, sign up for alerts. Because we do send out alerts to our customer through PDAs, cell phones and email. That’s going to let you know if there’s anything taking place on your route, and you can make adjustments. Third, when you go to the RTA homepage, there’s a box that says “New to RTA” that truly gives you everything you need.
When you are new, that’s when the call center really comes in handy. They have the tools that we weren’t able to put on the web site to look at the whole service. Especially when you are a brand new customer, it’s beneficial to make that initial call to the call center. Certainly you can go to the Web site and get everything you need, but the call center is very helpful.
Q: Are there changes coming to RTA in the near future that may affect rider experience?
We don’t really have anything on the horizon in terms of programs, but there are some things out there that can affect rider experience.
  • In the last few years, we’ve gotten over 100 new buses. We don’t have an aged bus fleet. Even in extreme weather, riders have a more consistent experience without bus breakdowns or stalls.
  • Our maintenance team has ramped up a program in which they are focused on the appearance and cleanliness of the bus (inside and out). When those buses come into the garage, they are working diligently to get them clean and ready to go.
  • The third thing we have in place is the Customer Service Promise. Unless it’s really a glaring issue, it’s hard to spot a trend, but customer feedback helps. The Customer Service Promise is an accountability tool – if there’s a problem, (customers) can go right to the top and let the decision-makers know that there’s an issue. We have customers that will call in directly about bus stops and placements and we work so hard to be able to address those issues directly. We have a very heightened sense about customer service – from our Executive Director to our grounds crew.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
It was a very cool experience for us to go through this with you. Some of the issues you had encountered, we’re working on the back end to be responsive (i.e. trip planner). A last thought would be that RTA tries to be very responsive to our customers and the general public. Interact with us; if you have ideas – give them to us. Our chief is very visible and he’s very open to talking to people and trying to be responsive to what people need in their riding experience. Our Transit Ambassadors are there to help you out with anything and make sure your experience is safe. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We are your RTA – access us, use us, contact us. Even if you’re not a rider, you may have some ideas.
We have our strategic questionnaire available now and the first part is geared toward people who aren’t currently readers. We are trying to get as much feedback from the community as possible. It’s just as important to us to have feedback from the general public as it is from our customers.

In addition to the “challenges” we as riders see, Ms. Pritchett also shared some great aspects of RTA. Did you know:

  • RTA has been awarded “Ohio’s Greenest Fleet” status by the Clean Fuels Ohio’s statewide Ohio Green Fleets Program
  • RTA is one of only 5 cities in the US with electric trolleys (down for the summer due to construction – they’ll be running again this fall)
  • RTA’s Operator Training program was a Top 3 Finalist in the country by the American Public Transit Association
  • RTA was the first transit system in the country with a bus fleet equipped with bike racks
  • RTA was recognized by the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities for our Operator’s Disabilities Training program

Thanks to everyone who rode along with me by reading. Want your own bus adventure? RTA has offered three additional 7-day passes for a lucky DaytonMostMetro.com reader. Check out the details below for how to win.

Film Review – Midnight in Paris (B-)

By Leave a Comment

Midnight in Paris
@ The Neon
June 12, 2011
Grade: B-

Woody Allen’s getting a little long in the tooth to play opposite beautiful, young actresses these days, so he had Owen Wilson do it for him in “Midnight in Paris.” Wilson stars as Gil, a Hollywood screenwriter who, though successful, feels unfulfilled as a wannabe Hemingway. The ever-present romantic in Gil sees a business trip with his fiancee, Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents as an opportunity to “walk the streets of Paris in the rain” and to work on his novel. Inez and her conservative family have other ideas. So, when Gil finds himself walking the streets lost and alone late one night, he finds himself magically transported to 1920s Paris, a time and place occupied by his heroes, F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll) and other artistic and literary gods.

Taking advantage of a film phenomenon that could be described as Groundhog Day combined with Field of Dreams, Gil discovers that every night at midnight he’s able to hobnob with the most influential people of the early 20th century. As if finding himself in his ideal place and time in all of human existence isn’t gift enough, Gil quickly meets and is accepted into the elite 1920s social circle that includes Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Cole Porter, Pablo Picasso and many other people you’ve heard of. Gil even gets Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates) to proofread his manuscript.

While Gil’s initial trips back to his personal heaven are productive and fun, (we get to see what a drunken conversation between Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso might look like) the nightly time travels begin to become unnecessary and stagnant, eventually coming off as little more than an effort to drop as many huge names as possible. “You’re T.S. Eliot!”

Each new intellectual giant of the era Gil encounters has less impact than the previous. It’s impossible to develop the hypothetical social behavior of so many complex individuals inside of two hours and introducing so many new characters becomes tiresome. The best and most humorous scenes of the movie involve Gil seeking the advice of Hemingway, as he’s all at once mesmerized by the unlikely circumstances and overwhelmed by Hemingway’s honesty and intensity. Even moviegoers with just a passing understanding of Hemingway’s style like myself will be able to laugh when he passes along advice to Gil on love and life. Stoll’s Hemingway was particularly entertaining and I would’ve preferred a more specific story that allowed Gil to continue to interact with Hemingway and others who could relate to Gil’s predicament. I get why we’re meeting Gertrude Stein, Gil needs help with his novel. But why are we meeting Salvador Dali?

After acquiring the affection of Picasso’s mistress, Adriana (Marion Cotillard), and besting both Picasso and Hemingway in the process (you can just picture Allen smiling as he imagines himself in this scenario), Gil learns from her that even the most interesting people living in the most interesting time can be unhappy in their present. This is a revelation that lets Gil free himself of both his unpromising engagement to Inez and his obsession with his trips to the 20s.

Ultimately, the majority of Midnight in Paris is undeniably fun, often humorous and the performances are good across the board. I just found much of it disappointing due to an engaging, exciting first half that faded away and the unfulfilled potential of the premise.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYRWfS2s2v4′]

A Second Chance at Love

By Leave a Comment

Greg Smith and Barbara Jorgensen in Southern Comforts

The Young at Heart Players, Dayton’s only senior theater troupe, ushers in its second decade with a heartwarming and humorous production of Kathleen Clark’s 2006 two-hander “Southern Comforts,” presented in collaboration with the Dayton Theatre Guild.

Fluidly directed by YAHP founder Fran Pesch and set in a Victorian home in New Jersey circa 1996, “Southern Comforts,” as seen at its well paced final dress rehearsal, features very charming turns by Barbara Jorgensen and Greg Smith as Amanda Cross and Gus Klingman, a colorfully opinionated duo who learn to love again despite their personal and geographical differences. Clark predictably lays the groundwork for a happy ending in the first scene, but Jorgensen and Smith’s endearing chemistry and sharp characterizations keep the breezy action thoroughly engaging, particularly in the final minutes which provide touching closure.

Jorgensen effortlessly handles the casual ease and subtle complexities inherent in Amanda, a churchgoing chatterbox from Tennessee who loves baseball and still longs for romantic pleasures. She particularly shines with a captivating mix of anger and bewilderment late in Act 2 when Amanda grows perturbed and perplexed about Gus’ decision not to share a burial plot with her. As the strong-willed Gus, a New Jersey native still shaken by his late wife’s unhappiness and emotional detachment, Smith winningly reveals the inner struggle of a man reticent of losing his independence while genuinely longing for meaningful companionship. Although Gus totally desires a new chapter with Amanda, Smith astutely reiterates how difficult compromise can be.

“Southern Comforts” is intended for an older audience, but its tender sentiments and lasting reminder that all relationships must evolve and adapt has unlimited appeal.

Southern Comforts will be staged Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. at the Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave. The play is performed in 90 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. Tickets are $12 for seniors and students and $15 for adults. For more information, visit www.daytontheatreguild.org

And The Tony Goes To…

By 1 Comment

Broadway’s 2010-11 season refreshingly became a part of the mainstream due to the ill-conceived travesty known as “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark,” but the 65th annual Tony Awards, which will be broadcast live Sunday, June 12 on CBS, will fittingly remind everyone that the surprisingly strong season offered a slew of truly outstanding productions, most notably “The Book of Mormon,” the hit musical from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone which leads all shows with 14 nominations. A “Mormon” sweep isn’t likely (there’s no way the costumes in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” will be overlooked by the 824 voting members), but the evening will certainly produce its share of suspense. Here are my predictions in the major categories.

BEST PLAY

“Good People”

“Jerusalem”

“The Motherf**ker with the Hat”

“War Horse”

Will Win: “War Horse”

Should Win: “Good People”

Two potent British imports and two invigorating contemporary American works comprise one of the strongest Best Play battles in recent memory. Each contender offers a riveting journey, and I wouldn’t be surprised if “Mother” and “Good People” receive Pulitzer Prize consideration next year. In this race, my vote would go to David Lindsay-Abaire’s middle class comic drama “Good People,” a fascinating, timely character study on par with his Pulitzer Prize-winning “Rabbit Hole,” but Nick Stafford’s theatrically thrilling, puppet-driven “War Horse,” a World War I epic based on Michael Morpurgo’s tale of a poor English boy and his beloved horse, is a sentimental crowd-pleaser.

BEST MUSICAL

“The Book of Mormon”

“Catch Me If You Can”

“The Scottsboro Boys”

“Sister Act”

Will Win: “The Book of Mormon”

Should Win: “The Scottsboro Boys”

“The Scottsboro Boys,” John Kander and Fred Ebb’s final collaboration phenomenally directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman (“The Producers”), brought a dark, forgotten period in American history to riveting light boldly framed within the context of a minstrel show. Although “Scottsboro” duly received 12 nominations, took musical theater to daring new heights and featured Kander and Ebb’s finest score since “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” there’s no stopping “Mormon,” a slick, smart and hilarious satire skillfully marrying musical theater conventions with brazen, profane naughtiness.

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

“Arcadia”

“The Importance of Being Earnest”

“The Merchant of Venice”

“The Normal Heart”

Will/Should Win: “The Normal Heart”

“Venice” was particularly luminous and conceptually engrossing, but Larry Kramer’s emotionally charged AIDS-themed drama packs a wallop from start to finish unlike any show this season. Anyone heading to New York City should take time to experience the visceral power of the expertly acted and superbly directed “Normal Heart.”

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

“Anything Goes”

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

Will Win: “Anything Goes”

Should Win: “How to Succeed”

Due to the presence of Sutton Foster and Cole Porter’s glorious tunes, “Anything Goes” is the frontrunner, but it doesn’t come close to matching the more cohesive, flavorful “How to Succeed.”

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Brian Bedford, “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Bobby Cannavale, “The Motherf**ker with the Hat”

Joe Mantello, “The Normal Heart”

Al Pacino, “The Merchant of Venice”

Mark Rylance, “Jerusalem”

Will/Should Win: Rylance

This is an extremely tight race. Six months ago I would have told you Pacino was a cinch for his masterfully understated Shylock, but a lot has happened since then. Bedford reinterpreted Lady Bracknell with finesse, Cannavale planted undeniable passion and vigor into his role as a troubled ex-con and Mantello astounded as the volcanic Ned Weeks. Still, Rylance, a Tony winner for “Boeing-Boeing,” delivers a mesmerizing performance of a lifetime as kooky outcast Rooster Cogburn. Rylance also drew acclaim last fall for his performance in “La Bete” so he’s the clear favorite here.

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Nina Arianda, “Born Yesterday”

Frances McDormand, “Good People”

Lily Rabe, “The Merchant of Venice”

Vanessa Redgrave, “Driving Miss Daisy”

Hannah Yelland, “Brief Encounter”

Will/Should Win: McDormand

Arianda was perfectly cast in the Judy Holliday mold, Rabe more than held her own opposite Pacino and Redgrave was simply heartbreaking, but the Oscar winning McDormand (“Fargo”) will triumph for her incredibly authentic and marvelously developed portrayal of Margaret Walsh, an unemployed single mother from South Boston who dares to question the genuineness of a successful old friend from her neighborhood.

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Norbert Leo Butz, “Catch Me If You Can”

Josh Gad, “The Book of Mormon”

Joshua Henry, “The Scottsboro Boys”

Andrew Rannells, “The Book of Mormon”

Tony Sheldon, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”

Will Win: Butz

Should Win: Sheldon

A lot has been said about Daniel Radcliffe being overlooked for “How to Succeed,” but there isn’t anyone here I would eliminate. Henry was terrific in a predominately dramatic role, but his nomination is a win in itself. Gad and Rannells, the best male musical duo since Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in “The Producers,” will likely cancel each other out. Sheldon, an Australian stage veteran who received an Olivier Award nomination for the London production of “Priscilla,” brings beautifully substantive depth and feminine believability to his multifaceted portrayal of transsexual Bernadette, but voters might have grown tired of drag considering Douglas Hodge took this category last year as a female impersonator in “La Cage aux Folles.” So look for Butz, a Tony winner for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” who can never be discounted, to take the prize for his sharp, comical turn as FBI agent Carl Hanratty.

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Sutton Foster, “Anything Goes”

Beth Leavel, “Baby It’s You!”

Patina Miller, “Sister Act”

Donna Murphy, “The People in the Picture”

Will Win: Foster

Should Win: Miller

Miller, a sassy vocal powerhouse I adored in the London production of “Sister Act,” gives the finest musical comedy performance in this category thanks to her dynamic, funny and soulful portrayal of disco singer-turned-incognito nun Deloris Van Cartier. Even so, the ever popular, Tony winning Foster (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”) will prevail for her good but not great embodiment of nightclub evangelist Reno Sweeney.

The 65th annual Tony Awards, hosted by Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris, will be telecast live from New York’s Beacon Theatre Sunday, June 12 at 8 p.m. on CBS. Among the scheduled performers is Muse Machine alum Jill Paice of Beavercreek, who will join Harris and an all-star cast in a special selection from the Stephen Sondheim musical Company. For more information, visit www.TonyAwards.com

Lion King’s The Ticket To A $20.11 3 Course Meal

By 2 Comments

Coco’s Bistro is tempting theater goers to visit  their restaurant for a fantastic pre-show 3 course meal deal.  From June 14 to July 10 they will be offering a Lion King 3 course meal for $20.11.

Start with a house or Caesar salad, then choose from one of their Entree specials:

Beef Filet Skewers
Char-grilled beef filet skewers with BBQ spice, melted bleu cheese, drizzled with a Worcestershire syrup and cabernet reduction and tobacco onions, served with a chived potato cake

Creole Chicken
Cajun grilled chicken breast topped with andouille sausage, sautéed onions, diced tomatoes and melted Monterrey Jack on a bed of roasted tomatillo Spanish rice and finished with a scallion crème fraiche

Crab Crowned Tilapia
Oven-baked Tilapia topped with lump blue crab stuffing, served with sour cream and chive mashed and finished with our zesty scampi butter

Vegan Stir Fry
Variety of stir fried seasonal vegetables and roasted cashews tossed in a spicy orange glaze, served over ginger scallion rice and drizzled with a soy lime syrup. Choice of protein optional.

Finish with a selection of Mousse of the day.

Special wine pairings will be available for $5 a glass.

Just show your ticket or stub for that evenings show to be eligible for these specials.  We highly recommend making reservations early to take advantage of this dining deal.  Call 228-2626 and tell them DaytonDining sent you!

You Drink, They Eat!

By 1 Comment

“Hope is the belief that, in spite of present conditions, happiness and good things are soon to come.”

The Wine Loft at the Greene has figured out how to serve up wine and hope at the same time.  As part of a unique new program that donates a percentage of sales with their monthly wine features, the more folks that sample the featured monthly flight of wine, the more money will be donated to The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton.  The organization helps people with the pitfalls of life. By addressing these problems, they are helping to support the idea that tomorrow can be better than today, which is the essence of hope.

The biggest program the foundation runs is their mobile food pantry. Every week, their truck is packed with food packages for 700 families in need. They then travel to various host sites in Montgomery and Greene counties to deliver directly to  clients.  They provide two bags of groceries and a few lbs. of meat (9 meals) to those in need. They distribute more than FIFTEEN TONS of food EVERY MONTH.

Try a flight of the Lofts featured wines for June  for $16 and $1/flight with be donated  to  The Hope Foundation.  Here are this months features:

Bricco del Sole Moscato d’Asti

100% Moscato. The 6,000 case production is divided into 5 or 6 bottling periods to preserve natural freshness. Slow natural fermentation for 1 month in temperature controlled stainless steel.

Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir

The 2009 Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir offers aromas of strawberry, raspberry and hints of anise. Red fruit flavors are predominant with cherry notes and a long silky finish.

Domaine la Guintrandy Cotes du Rhone

70% Grenache, 20% olds Carignan and 10% Syrah

Joel Gott Cabernet

The 2008 Joel Gott 815 California Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe with blueberry, cherry soda, and dark cherry. The aromas burst with violet, vanilla, cedar, chocolate and cinnamon. Soft ripe tannins result in a balanced and long velvety finish.

Melville Chardonnay

This rich, creamy Chardonnay has fine acidity, while a touch of neutral oak adds a background of buttered toast. But the fruit stars, brimming with papayas, mangos, Meyer lemons, limes and pineapples. The finish is filled with honey, and yet is brisk and dry.

You can also visit The Wine Loft for lunch Friday- Sunday and 10% of your food bill will also be donated to The Hope Foundation.  Check out the lunch menu here.

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre: 06/09 – 06/22

By Leave a Comment

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

Evil Dead: CATCO

Evil Dead: the Musical at CATCO (Photo Credit Dave Alkire and CATCO-Phoenix)

The unexpected happens a lot in theatre. Everything rarely goes exactly as planned; that is the nature of live theatre, and we have to learn to deal quickly to make things work. And yesterday, the show I’m ASMing (Evil Dead: the Musical at CATCO; it’s a professional show and well worth the drive out to Columbus, so come see it!) was no exception. Halfway through the show, the hinge on the trap door broke when one character stomped to close it; so my crew and I scrambled around backstage alerting actors and shuffling duties so that a crew person could be underneath the door as needed. We averted any potential injuries or changes to the blocking, finished the show well and fully, and fixed the door immediately after.

At first, the thought of problems is irritating. Why can’t things just work all the time? Why can’t we be in control of everything during a show? As Assistant Stage Manager, if something backstage goes wrong, it’s my fault. I really like when the show and the effects run smoothly.

However, thinking about it, I realize a certain exhilaration, too. Having something go wrong, but being able to work together to get past it and make the show work, is a mark of good collaboration and communication within a show. If our cast and crew weren’t working well together, we couldn’t fix problems like the cellar door on the spot. Those elements are part of the very essence of theatre, whether garage, community, or Equity, and seeing them lived out successfully reminds me why I love theatre, and why Dayton theatre is so great. These next couple of weeks, we have venue and artistic collaborations on shows, as well as the individual process of each performance. Support those this weekend, and go see one of these great productions.

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

The Mystery of Edwin DroodEdwin Drood: BCT

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

The Story: John Jasper, a Jekyll-and-Hyde choirmaster, desperately loves his music student, Miss Rosa Bud, who is engaged to Jasper’s nephew, Edwin Drood. However, when Edwin Drood disappears mysteriously one stormy Christmas Eve, suspicions abound. In this adaptation of Dickens’ last and unfinished manuscript and a show-within-a-show, audiences choose the ending!
Dates: June 10 – 19, 2011
Tickets & More Information: BC Theatre: Edwin Drood

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

right next to me

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

The Story: A war widow, attempting to cope with her Marine husband’s death in Iraq, goes with her brother-in-law on a quest to scatter her husband’s ashes where he required, remembering and seeing flashbacks along the way in an emotionally moving and uplifting journey. This show premiered in an earlier and very different version as part of the Human Race Musical Theatre Workshops in 2009.
The Dates: May 21 – June 12, 2011
Tickets & More Information: Human Race Theatre Company

…ONE WEEKEND ONLY

Southern Comforts

YOUNG AT HEART PLAYERS and DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Some people thrive and grow enervated with change; others, run from any potential unsettlement. In a Victorian era New Jersey, a taciturn Yankee widower and a vivacious Tennessee grandmother find a second chance at love, but the relationship is filled with surprise and unpredictable tribulation. A collaboration between two theatres, “this off-Broadway success is an affecting, late-in-life journey of compromise and rejuvenation, of personal risk and the rewards of change” (DTG).
Dates: June 10 – 12, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Dayton Theatre Guild, DMM Event

Altar Boyz

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

Altar Boyz

The Story: In this foot-stomping, rafter-raising, musical comedy, a fictitious Christian boy band performs on the last night of their national “Raise the Praise” tour. The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. Performed in Sinclair CC’s Blair Hall Theatre, this show is perfect for those who love (and to love to make fun of) boy bands!
Dates: June 16 – 18, 2011
Tickets and More Information: Encore Theater Company

Part of it All

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Into the Woods: PHS

Into the Woods

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

Auditions: June 13 & 14
Performances: August 12 – 21, 2011
The Story: After a Witch curses a Baker and his wife with childlessness, the couple embarks on a quest for special objects from classic fairy tales to break the spell, stealing from and lying to Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel, and Jack (of beanstalk fame). But the characters didn’t count on the consequences of their actions or the disasters that would ensue…
More Information: Playhouse South: Into the Woods

Harvey

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

Auditions: June 13 & 14, 2011
Performances: August 26 – September 4, 2011
The Story: Elwood P. Dowd begins introducing his imaginary friend, Harvey (a six and a half foot rabbit) at a society party; his sister, Veta, can’t tolerate the embarrassment and has him committed to a sanitarium. However, problems arrive when Veta explains that years of living with Elwood have made her see Harvey, too! The doctors commit Veta instead of Elwood, but when the truth comes out, the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion.
More Information: BC Theatre: Auditions

~KN