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Archives for March 2012

Air Camp Grows Future Aviation Leaders

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(Editor Note: the following was submitted by Scott Murphy)

Over the past few years, community leaders have a launched a number of new efforts that are helping put Dayton back on the map.  Initiatives to help our community become more immigrant friendly, secure Dayton as the Ohio hub for aerospace technology, and solidify our city as the starting place for the Road to the Final Four are big ideas (and many more) that help distinguish us from other cities.  We’ve realized that if we want people to think of Dayton, then we’ve got to give them something to think about.

Air Camp is another effort uniquely Dayton.  Started by local educators and retired Air Force and business community leaders, this program introduces middle school students from around the country to aviation and aeronautics.  Think Space Camp at Huntsville, AL, but for aeronautics and aviation at the birthplace of flight.  The intensive one week Air Camp combines the principles of aeronautics with hands on experience.  The program’s packed curriculum pulls together the many assets around the region that together distinguish Dayton as a world-leader in flight.

Want to get a young person excited about flight?  Show them airplanes… really cool ones.  Students visit the National Museum of the United States Air Force on the program’s first day and see firsthand how Dayton has been at the cutting edge in aviation since Orville and Wilbur made their historic flight in 1903.  Dayton remains on the cutting edge with the research that happens every day at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  Air Camp shows students that almost all new developments in aerospace technology get their start or are at least impacted by researchers at Wright-Patt.  In Dayton at the Air Force Research Lab, new aerospace technology goes from theory to application – ideas turn into reality.  Program participants interact with these Air Force researchers and get a glimpse of what their future career could be like in science and technology.

Air Camp inspires and challenges its students with hands on learning in the principles of flight.  Participants get the unique opportunity to learn the basics of aeronautics by actually designing and testing a wing in a wind tunnel.  At Sinclair they participate in a half-day course on how to fly an airplane and get a thrill they’ll be sure to remember by piloting a motion-based flight simulator.  It’s one thing to understand the physical principles of how planes fly; it’s another thing to actually feel it by flying one yourself.  All Air Camp students get this opportunity at Wright Brothers Airport as a capstone activity near the end of the week.

Air Camp’s founders saw a nation-wide need for more scientists, engineers, and technicians.  People like Vince Russo, a retired Air Force Executive who chose to make Dayton his home after retirement, hope Air Camp will inspire middle school students to choose a research and technology related vocation.  Says Russo, “Our vision is to inspire students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).  Air Camp is a ‘wow’ experience grounded by a solid academic curriculum to help create a technology savvy workforce for the future.”

Thanks to Air Camp, when these students grow up they’ll not only be more likely to pursue a career in aviation and aeronautics, they’ll know that Dayton, OH is the place to do it.

Air Camp applications are being accepted now for the 2012 summer sessions scheduled for June 17-22, July 8-13, and July 22-27. Up to 40 students will be chosen for each session by a competitive application process. Applications are being accepted online through April 30 at www.aircampusa.com from students entering the seventh through ninth grades in fall 2012.

Questions?  Contact Tom Severyn at [email protected] to learn more.

The Century Scores Rare Bourbon

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Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Ky., has long been known for making premium bourbons. The oldest continuously operating distillery in America, for more than 200 years they have been distilling fine whiskey on the spot where the buffalo migration route crossed the Kentucky River. Not content to rest on their laurels, Buffalo Trace has continued to create new products and was recently named American Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year by Whisky magazine.

Their newest product is not only a damned fine bottle of bourbon, but it also has a fascinating story behind it. On April 2, 2006, a powerful line of storms tore through Central Kentucky, tearing apart two of Buffalo Trace’s warehouses. Fortunately, one of them was empty, but the other was one of the distillery’s most treasured warehouses. Warehouse C was built by Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. himself in 1881 and held 24,000 barrels of young and premature E.H. Taylor bourbon.

The barrels miraculously survived the storm, despite the fact that the walls and roof around it were ripped off, leaving them completely exposed. The barrels basically cooked through the summer as the warehouse was repaired around them. Summer heat is actually an integral part of the whiskey aging process, as the expansion that results from the rising temperatures drives the bourbon into the wood of the barrels and allows them to come in contact with the oak, which contributes the mellow flavors of fine whiskey.

But these extreme conditions resulted in an unusually high evaporation rate that left them with a unique wood flavor integration and an extremely high “angel’s share” of 63.9 percent, more than double the normal loss due to evaporation. The bourbon that these greedy angels left behind exhibits a wonderfully spicy flavor profile with a beautiful nose and extremely complex finish.

Bottled at 100 proof, this rye-heavy mixture is the third in the Colonel E.H. Taylor series of special limited-release bourbons. Aged between nine and 11 years, this is truly a rare and special bottle of whiskey. Now, it’s not cheap at $75.99 for a fifth, but this represents a chance to experience a little bit of history in a glass; and it’s highly unlikely that circumstances like this will ever be repeated, even intentionally. Chalk up the high price to the limited availability and the fact that the angels took some of the finest hooch.


The above story from NashvilleScene.com writer Chris Chamberlain

Currently available in very limited quantities, you can try this rare bourbon at The Century- A Bourbon House, on Jefferson Street in downtown Dayton!  Just one of the many 60+ bourbons that grace the bar of this charming little bar, that reinvented itself this year by
specializing in barrel aged spirits.

For a true education in bourbons, I suggest you attend their monthly tastings that give you great exposure to a variety of brands and flavors, amusing tidbits about the history and making of the amber liquids and some tasty treats, too.  The next tasting is on Sat, April 14 and Neil’s Heritage House will be providing part of the food.  You can purchase your tickets for $30 from the bar.

Celebrate SWAN Day – Support Women Artists Now in Dayton

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An international event for women artists is coming to Dayton as part of the celebration of Women’s History month.

Support Women Artists Now, or SWAN Day, features and celebrates the talents of female artists. The new event gained a lot of steam in its first four years and has had over 700 Swan Day events in 21 countries. Taking place on the last Saturday of Women’s History Month, it’s already been officially recognized in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and many more cities. Swan Day has yet to hit the streets of Dayton, but this year will be different.

On March 31st at 3:00 p.m. community members will gather at the Auditorium in the Dayton Metro Library Main Branch to see local female talent showcasing their finest work. Best of all, the program is free!

Co-founder of SWAN Day, Martha Richards, believes that women artists are creating a change in communities around the world. She says the celebration represents what the world would be like if female art and perspectives were fully integrated into everyone’s lives. Richards adds that the long-term goal is inspiring communities to recognize and support women artists as what she calls a basic element of civic planning. SWAN Day has attracted some high-profile attention. Award-winning novelist Isabel Allendale, Grey’s Anatomy actress Sandra Oh, and X-Men movie actress Famke Janssen have all made online video endorsements of the event.

Attending artists will include a wide range of local talents like authors, film-makers, poets, comedians, and more. There will be short films, poetry and novel readings, plays, and still more. For a little taste of what’s to come, I asked a few of the featured artists for their takes on SWAN Day and what they’ll be providing during the celebration.

Documentarian Maggie Price will be showing her film A Pretty Piece of Flesh. For Price, SWAN Day is something she considers not only an exciting opportunity for celebration, but also a chance for women artists to come together and support each other and the work they create. She hopes her film will start a dialogue about the difficult topic of cutting. Believing self-harm is often sensationalized in the media, Price says she wants to present something honest and personal that people can relate to and might help others gain some understanding.

Kristie LeVangie

Poet Kristie LeVangie, who will be reading excerpts of her work, says she’s honored to be able to share part of her vision and support her fellow artists. She thinks of SWAN Day as an opportunity to promote positive female endeavors in the arts and for female artists to share their art – no matter the form. LeVangie says that if she  can inspire another woman to reach out and interpret her world or just liberate a thought, it makes it all worth it.

Sara Berelsman will be reading the first chapter of her memoir about alcoholism, currently titled The Last Rock Bottom. Like LeVangie, she’s excited for the potential to inspire those who attend. For Berelsman, this event means a chance to celebrate women and creativity. She hopes it will raise awareness of female talent in the area and that this will be the first of many SWAN Days.

Tami Boehmer will be reading from her compilation, From Incurable to Incredible: Cancer Survivors Who Beat the Odds. Boehmer, whose been interviewed by Cincinnati’s FOX 19, says she’s honored to be part of the program and looks forward to meeting fellow participants and experiencing their work. She thinks SWAN Day is a great opportunity and hopes it will help propel the work of female artists in Ohio to a larger audience.

Mary Curran Hackett

Novelist Mary Curran Hackett will be reading selections from her debut novel, Proof of Heaven. She says she thinks the purpose of the event is to enable people to envision a world that includes every woman’s contribution to art and culture as well as explore what women can offer their communities. Hackett hopes that not only will women and girls leave the celebration feeling empowered and inspired, but also that both genders feel inspired to support and admire women artists.

I don’t think I have to point this out, but there are some common threads here: inspiration, support, opportunity, community, unique contribution, encouragement, and perspective to name a few. These women are also adamant in a strong belief in the large talent pool here in the community. Not only are they eager to share their personal stories, artworks, and time; they’re excited to see what all the other attendees will bring to the event.

Here’s hoping you’ll all join me on the 31st to celebrate SWAN Day and the artistic accomplishments of our local ladies. Many will be selling books and artwork and others will be signing copies – if you’re a fan of anyone scheduled to attend, be sure to bring something for their signatures. Each and every one of the attending artists has a lot to bring to the table, so be sure to check them out. You never know who or what might inspire you.

Follow these links for more info:  SWAN Day Dayton and the national site WomenArts SWAN Day.

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger Video Review

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[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdS0CqRc3hs&’]

Brand new to Ohio! This is the Snobby Beer review of Bengali Tiger from Sixpoint Craft Ales in Brooklyn, New York. Sixpoint produces beers that are available in cans, and just recently became distributed in Ohio. The website claims that this beer is inspired by a homebrewed IPA.

From the Sixpoint website:Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

“What immortal hand or eye. Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
The Sixpoint homebrewed IPA interpretation. Blaze orange in color, with an abundance of citrus hop bitterness, and a full pine and grapefruit bouquet in the aroma.”

Questions? Suggestions? Let me know what you think! Grab a beer and leave a comment.

THIN ICE + Great NEON News!

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Hello Everyone,

We’re moving right along this week. On Friday, we will open a new dark comedy starring Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup – THIN ICE. If you still need to see A SEPARATION, you only have until tomorrow. Though THE HEDGEHOG did not perform wonderfully, audiences have been adoring this film…so we’re going to keep it for one show a day over the weekend – thus Sunday will be your last chance to see it. FRIENDS WITH KIDS, which I think is a smart and sweet comedy, will stick around!

Synopsis for THIN ICE: “Mickey Prohaska is a small-time insurance agent looking for a way to jump-start his business, reunite with his estranged wife and escape the frigid Wisconsin weather. This self-proclaimed master of spin believes that salesmanship is about selling a story – all he needs is a sucker willing to buy it. He hits pay dirt with a lonely retired farmer who is sitting on something much bigger than an insurance commission. But Mickey’s attempt to con the old man spins out of control when a nosy, unstable locksmith with a volatile temper dramatically ups the stakes, trapping him in a spiral of danger, deceit and double-crossing. Blending dark comedy and delirious Midwestern noir, THIN ICE reaches a breaking point that no one – least of all Mickey Prohaska – could ever see coming.” (taken from ATO Pictures)
Click HERE to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBvr5139pOg’]

And now some great news. Many of you have asked about SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN – starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, and Kristin Scott Thomas. We just secured the film to open exclusively at THE NEON on March 30! If you come during opening weekend, you’ll help us send a message to this new distributor that they have made the right decision by chosing THE NEON. To learn more about the film, visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEUwCX2UjJA’]

The 4th Annual LUNAFEST in Dayton will be held Sunday, April 1 at 3:00. “Nine Short Films By/For/About Women, including a funny view of a Persian woman at her younger sister’s engagement party and a serious look at treating obstetric fistulas in Africa. Also: PARK, by WSU film grad Liz Cambron, about a teenaged girl coming of age during summer in a Dayton-area trailer park (selected for this year’s SlamdDance Film Festival). Filmmaker will be do Q&A.
Tickets: $10 (suggested), $5 (minimum), $3 (students w/ ID).
Proceeds to National Breast Cancer Fund and Planned Parenthood of SW Ohio.
Sponsored by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance.” (taken from press notes)

For this week’s remaining showtimes, please visit www.neonmovies.com.

For those of you who use Facebook, we finally have an actual page…not just a “group” page. We will soon be fazing out the old group, so please LIKE us by following this LINK.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. March 23 – Thur. March 29:

THE HEDGEHOG (NR) 1 Hr 40 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40

THIN ICE (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20

FRIENDS WITH KIDS (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:45

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.

Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
March 30 SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN
TBD PARIAH
TBD BEING FLYNN
TBD IN DARKNESS
TBD WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
April 13 THE RAID
April 27 FOOTNOTE
mid-May DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
mid/late-May DARLIN COMPANION
May 25 THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
June 1 SOUND OF MY VOICE

Cash Mob the Oregon District this Saturday!

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Looking for a fresh way to support local businesses and meet new people at the same time? Be a part of Dayton’s first ever Cash Mob this Saturday, March 24th in the Oregon District! Show up at 521 E. Fifth Street at 5:00 PM and be ready to spend up to $20 at a nearby locally-owned retail shop! Afterward, Cash Mobbers are invited to show off their new purchases at Lucky’s Taproom! Mobbers will receive 20% off food and $1 off draft beers at Lucky’s.

What is a Cash Mob?

Cash Mobs create quick economic stimulus for local shop owners. They are similar to flash mobs but instead of dancing, you spend a few bucks supporting home-grown retailers and socialize afterward at a local watering hole (where some celebratory dancing may still occur). These events were started in Cleveland in 2011 and have since been held all over the world. Every Cash Mob shares the goal of supporting local businesses. March 24,2012 is the inaugural International Cash Mob Day and Dayton’s Cash Mob will be one of over 200 other mobs happening this Saturday. For more information on Cash Mobs, go to: www.cashmobs.wordpress.com

What can I buy at the Dayton Cash Mob?

To find out what retail shops are participating, you’ll just have to show up at 521 E. Fifth Street at 5 pm. Rest assured, you will be able to find whatever you are looking for and probably something you’re not, too! Products that will be available for purchase include: new and vintage clothing; original artwork; posters; jewelry; new and used books, music, and movies; new and vintage housewares; posters; specialty food items; unique gifts and accessories; bags, t-shirts, scarfs, bandanas, and more!

The first 25 Cash Mobbers will receive a free t-shirt from MerchFITS.  There will also be other free swag from participating retailers and MerchFITS. All participants will receive 20% off food and $1 off draft beers at Lucky’s.

How can I find more information?

Follow the Cash Mob on Twitter @CMDaytonOH and RSVP to the Facebook event. If you can’t make it but still want to support the event, retweet us to all your friends and share our Facebook event!

For more information, contact BAM! at [email protected]. The first ever Dayton Cash Mob is presented by BAM! Find more info on this new artist collective in Dayton at www.bamdayton.blogspot.com

Sake Bomb Thursdays

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Sa Bai Asian Cuisine, located across from the Dayton Convention Center on Jefferson Street, will be starting a new recurring promotion on Thursday nights from 5-10pm.  Bring a friend or two to enjoy Sake Bombs, 3 for $10.

Never had a sake bomb?  It’s  a beer cocktail made by pouring sake into a shot glass, which is then balanced  on chopsticks placed on top of the glass.  Then following tradition the drinker counts to 3:

neung, song, saam (1,2,3) … Sake Bomb and slams the table with his fists, causing the sake to fall into the beer.It should be drunk immediately, and works best with warm sake.

Sai Ba will also be offering college students 20% off food from 5-9:30pm Thursday with a college I.D. And to add to the fun, DJ Matador will be keeping it spicy all nite long.

For more info or to see the menu online check out Sa Bai’s website.

 

Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre: March 19-25

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…BLINK AND THEY’RE GONE

ALMOST, MAINE

Xavier Players

The Story: On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.
The Dates: March 22-25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Xavier University Players | BTC listing

GUYS AND DOLLS

Rotary Presents

The Story: It all begins with a bet. Nathan Detroit bets high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary Sister Sarah Brown to accompany him on a trip to Cuba. While the worldly Sky works his charms on a wary Sarah, Nathan is doing his best to stay outside the matrimonial clutches of his long-suffering fiancée, Miss Adelaide. Guys and Dolls is a fable about what happens to gambling men and the women who long to tame them.
The Dates: March 22-25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Rotary Presents | BTC listing

…NEW THIS WEEK

CRYSTAL CLEAR DEATH

P.L.O.T.T. Performers

The Story: Be forewarned, if you are not a psychic, the visions you see may cause more than sugar plums to dance in your head. Welcome to Madame Simone’s parlor where strange things happen and the vibes are pulsating. There is a ghost of a chance that not all things are as they appear. Interactive dinner theater. 
The Dates: March 23-31, 2012
Tickets and More Information: P.L.O.T.T. Performers | BTC listing

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD

Northern Kentucky Univeristy

The Story: Australia is the perfect dumping ground for the worst British convicts in the 1780’s, but with only a few guards to keep the unruly inmates in line the Governor suggests a simple but bizarre solution to create order — have the inmates put on a play. Much to the dismay of both the prison workers and the prisoners themselves, the plan takes to the stage.
The Dates: March 22-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Northern Kentucky University | BTC listing

PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES

Brieabi Productions

The Story: On Highway 57, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, stands a gas station. Across the blacktop is a roadside eatery called the Double Cupp Diner. The three guys at the station, Jim, Jackson, and L.M., have been known to do some auto repairs, but only when aided by quantities of time and beer. The Cupp sisters, Prudie and Rhetta, celebrate their home cooking with the same zeal they bring to being neighborly with the boys. This feel good, toe-tapping musical is a tribute to life by the roadside!
The Dates: March 23-31, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Brieabi Productions | BTC listing

Emily Kissela as Rapunzel.

RAPUNZEL! RAPUNZEL! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: The classic fairy tale of Rapunzel comes to life in an exciting new musical featuring that beautiful princess with the long, long, long hair trapped in the tower, a handsome young suitor who doesn’t quite know what he’s searching for – of course, an evil witch who has her eye on what should be Rapunzel’s kingdom, and a tired, yet philosophical, old dragon who tries to make sense of it all!
The Dates: March 23-30, 2012
Tickets and More Information: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing

TIGERS BE STILL

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

The Story: “This is the story of how I stopped being a total disaster,” announces the heroine of this darkly funny and moving new comedy. Having recently earned her master’s degree, Sherry Wickman finds herself still living at home with a mother who won’t come downstairs and a depressed but smart-alecky sister. Follow Sherry’s quirky misadventures as she lands her first job and tackles her two biggest challenges … getting her mother out of bed and her sister off the couch.
The Dates: March 17-April 15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park | BTC listing

…CONTINUING

The cast of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

The Story: Stephen Sondheim’s remarkable Broadway fable of friendship and the high price of success opens in the present and moves backward in time. The triumphs and failures of a jaded composer and his two closest friends are traced from their estranged ending to their idealistic beginning. Directed by John Doyle, who led Playhouse’s Tony Award-winning production of COMPANY, the performers in this highly anticipated revival will play all of the instruments as they act and sing in one of Sondheim’s most melodic scores. Ages 13 and up.
The Dates: March 3-31, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park | BTC Listing

Burgess Byrd as Clairee and Christine Dye as Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Covedale Center for the Performing Arts

The Story: Welcome to Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few revealing verbal collisions, the play invokes knowing laughter and certain tears when the spunky Shelby risks her life for a child of her own. The realization of mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love – in these uniquely American women.
The Dates: March 8-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Landmark Productions | BTC listing

Jen Johansen* as Sarah Goodwin. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

TIME STANDS STILL

Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: This explosive new drama examines the relationship between headstrong Sarah, a star photojournalist, and James, a foreign correspondent, who were once addicted to the adrenaline of documenting the realities of war and are now grounded in their Brooklyn loft. Now, James writes online movie reviews while Sarah recovers from being injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, itching to get back behind the camera. But, when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life…and everything changes-in a flash.
The Dates: March 14-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing | BTC Review

…ENDING THIS WEEK

Joe Hornbaker, Sherry McCamley & Deb Cornetet Schubert in Mariemont Players' COLE. Photo by Jen Mielbrecht.

Mariemont Players Inc.

COLE

The Story: Follows Cole Porter’s life – from Yale to Paris to Manhattan to Broadway to Hollywood. This delightful musical tribute to the King of Musicals includes such hit tunes as I Love Paris, Take Me Back to Manhattan, “Love for Sale, Night and Day, and I Get a Kick Out of You.
The Dates: March 9-25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Mariemont Players Inc | BTC listing

…COMING SOON

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Broadway in Cincinnati

The Dates: March 27-April 8, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Broadway in Cincinnati | BTC listing

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

Mason Community Players

The Dates: March 29-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Mason Community Players | BTC listing

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

The Dates: March 31-May 12, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Know Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: DRALION

Bank of Kentucky Center

The Dates: March 28-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cirque Du Soleil | BTC listing

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Dates: March 30-April 29, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | BTC listing

THE STAR SPANGLED GIRL

Cedarville University

The Dates: March 29-April 15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cedarville Universtiy | BTC listing

Coming Up In Dayton Theatre, March 21st – April 4th.

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Ok, I think we’ve got this whole “schedule” figured out, and thanks for your patience, as well as to Russell and Shane for stepping in! Now, without further unnecessary ado, I bring you … What’s Going On:

One Night Only!

 

Disney’s Beauty And The Beast

Kuss Auditorium, Springfield Arts Council

The Skinny: The Broadway musical based on the classic Disney movie based on the classic fairytale, Beauty and The Beast can only be described as a crowd-pleased. Featuring the familiar (and Academy Award-winning!) Alan Menken/Howard Ashman music, as well as songs that will be less-familiar to those new to the stage rendition, this love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers and has been seen by an estimated 35 million people world wide.

Tickets: Ticket prices are $61, $51 and $41

Date: Beauty And The Beast comes and goes on Wednesday, March 28th.

For more information, visit the Springfield Arts Council site here: http://www.springfieldartscouncil.org/

 

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uizVpwvlNRI&feature=youtu.be’]

 

Closing This Weekend!

Bus Stop

Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: There’s great buzz about the drama onstage in Matt Smith’s production of William Inge’s classic, taking place in a diner outside Kansas City. Be sure to check out this offering to see what happens when a group of strangers have nowhere else to go, and nothing else to talk about but themselves.

Tickets: Prices are $15, $14 and $10

Dates: Bus Stop closes on 3/25.

For more information visit the Dayton Playhouse website at www.thedaytonplayhouse.com

 

Now Playing!

Going To St. Ives

The Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: After an eventful final dress performance, St. Ives had a smashing opening weekend. This Lee Blessing script is a series of conversations between the austere mother of an African dictator, and the renowned ophthalmologist who is her only hope. Under the direction of Greg Smith, this is not one you’ll want to miss.

Tickets: Tickets are are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $11 for students.

Dates: St. Ives continues its run this weekend and next, closing 4/1. It’s worth noting that this Saturday and next, the curtain is at 5:00 pm.

For tickets or more information, visit the Dayton Theatre Guild website at www.daytontheatreguild.org

 Auditions

Free Shakespeare!The Merchant Of Venice

Free Shakespeare!

What You Need To Know: Director, and Free Shakespeare! founder, Chris Shea is holding auditions for their summer production, The Merchant Of Venice. Auditioners will be asked to prepare a 1-minute classical monologue, as well as be ready to cold-read from the script. Gender-blind casting will be considered, and rehearsals will begin the week onf June 18th, with the first performance being July 20th. All roles are open and all actors will receive a cash stipend.

Where: Auditions will be held from 1 pm until 4 pm on Sunday, 3/25 at Atta Girl Arts & Gardens, 905 E. Third Street.

For more information Free Shakespeare! can be found on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/spreadthewords, or for further info, you may email Chris Shea at [email protected]

That about wraps it up for me for this fortnight. We’re reaching the end of the standard theatrical season, but that doesn’t mean anyone is slowing down just yet — most theatres have at least one more offering up their sleeve, and we’ve reached the most exciting part of every year: Season Announcement Time! Everyone has, or will soon be, announcing their 2012-2013 seasons, and we theatre-lovers, theatre-goers and theatre-makers wait with bated breath to see what THE SHOW(s) of the upcoming season will be. Never a dull moment ’round here! Stay tuned!

 

The Art of “Thank You”

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What three words have a total of only 14 letters yet carry a great deal of meaning?  “Please” and “Thank You”.

How do you feel when you get your mail and there is a card, clearly not junk mail.  It is in a hand-written envelope with YOUR name on it.

You look to see if there is a return address.

There is, but no name.  Who could it be from?!
You tear it open, with great  anticipation.

And there it is; A BIG BEAUTIFUL THANK-YOU NOTE. 

It is from someone that you met for coffee last week. They asked for some help on a new project they’re promoting and you helped them.  What goes through your mind?  Wow! This person cared enough to take the time out of their busy day to write me a thank you!

You won’t forget that person, will you? 

It never gets old!

The art of sending a hand-written thank you was becoming extinct, but is making an
amazing comeback!  In 2012, people are wanting to Outclass The Competition.

An email is the least preferred way to send a formal thank you.  It, however, is a great alternative in
business if someone sends you a great article, or a “thought you might like to see this”.

If a close friend sends you a great piece of advice or a recipe, again, an email is appropriate.  Never send an email thank you for wedding, graduation or shower gifts.  Remember, going the extra mile with a handwritten thank-you note has and always will be the perfect way to make you or your company shine.

 

  • Send a thank-you note immediately within 24
    hours if it is to show appreciation for a business meeting, business lunch or
    an interview.  Address the envelope, stamp it and write your thank you when you return so it can go in the mail the same day.
  • Send a thank-you note within two weeks of
    receiving a gift.  If it is past the
    two-week period and you think that it is too late, it’s not!  Send one anyway, no matter how long it has
    been.  The person you’re sending to might
    think it odd that you haven’t thanked them in a timely manner, but it’s better
    late than never.
  • Send a thank you for wedding gifts within
    three months.
  • A phone call never ranks as high as a thank
    you note.
  • When sending a thank-you note for a gift,
    refer to the gift that was given you and how much you like it.
  • Put a date at top-left of your thank-you card, use a salutation, such as “Dear”, use a comma
    after the salutation and addressee’s name, use honorifics, Mr. or Ms.,  when appropriate, and use a proper
    closing.  For business it would be Sincerely,
    Respectfully, Very respectfully, Regards, or Best regards.
  • Please spell cheek yur thaank you noats,
    wither it is by emaail or a noat card.
    Handwritten thank-you notes should be written on a separate piece of
    paper before the final draft on the actual card.

 

I personally favor the 4 ½ X 6 ¼ Correspondence Cards for business.  Joe Bohardt, owner of The Mulberry Tree, 2600 Far Hills Ave # 109, in Oakwood, is an expert in the field of stationery, note cards and invitations.  Joe introduced me to the correspondence card that I have used professionally for many years.  Joe said that your personal stationery or correspondence cards should be your fingerprint.  That way, when someone receives your card, or stationery, they will know it is from you.

I recommend stocking two types of thank-you notes; one for business and one for
social.  Your business correspondence card for thank-you notes should reflect you and your business.  It is like clothing.  If you are in the profession where you need to dress in formal business attire, then your cards should reflect that.  I would recommend a white card with black raised in or blind embossed.  If you are
in a profession where you need to dress casual and artsy,
then by all means, your thank-you cards should convey that.
It is all about branding yourself.

 

Tip:  Stationery and boxed thank-you notes make a
perfect thank-you gift.

 

Now that I have preached the importance of Thank-You Note Etiquette, I better get
down to business.  I do believe I have gotten behind in my Thank-You notes.

 

 

As a thank-you for reading my Getting The Edge on Etiquette column, the first five people that email me from my website, with their address, will receive their very own Crane Blue Book of Stationery, The Definitive Guide to Social and BusinessCorrespondence Etiquette.

Thank you!

 

Recommended books: 

101 Ways To Say Thank You, by Kelly Browne

and

The Crane Blue Book of Stationery.

 

Ohio Shock: a History of Horror Hosting in the Buckeye State

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Editor’s note:  The piece was submitted by Matthew Brassfield, a local filmmaker and the writer, director and producer of Baron Von Porkchop’s Terrifying Tales of the Macabre.

Ohio has always been a hot bed for what I like to call the “Art of Horror Hosting”, and many amazing characters have graced Buckeye State TVs in the late night and afternoons. Do you remember sitting in a dark living room under the glow of the TV set with a bowl of your favorite snacks and your eyes glued to the screen?  While you watched, the host seemed to be your friend and kept you safe from The Mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster and the ghouls of the film you were watching alongside him. Yes, I said alongside him. A good Horror Host becomes a friend that watches the terrors on the screen with you and makes it less scary as they joke their way through several hours. Many kids today haven’t experienced the wonders of cheesy horror films on late night television; kids can watch horror films directly on their cellphones or stream them from Netflix. Before the internet of course, we’d find out about older films from books or magazines and then wait for them to appear on TV. I learned about numerous films from seeing them on a horror host programs. Some of the hosts were on national stations like USA Network who had Commander USA hosting his “Groovie Movies.” Rhonda Shear and Gilbert Gottfried kept us “UP ALL NIGHT.” TBS had Grandpa Munster hosting “SUPER SCARY SATURDAY.” Elvira and her “Movie Macabre” filled the syndicated airwaves, and TNT had “MONSTER VISION” with host Joe Bob Briggs preceded briefly by comedy act Penn & Teller.

But it was the hometown hosts that seemed to really connect with viewers, making these ghouls into local super stars. So let’s take a look at some of these amazing late night icons of Ohio Horror. Some you may have watched growing up, some you might watch now and some you may have never heard of.

But first I should explain about the show title “Shock Theater” or “Shock Theatre.” Many Dayton folks think that this exclusively refers to Dr. Creep’s weekly host program, but that’s not the case at all. In 1957 Universal Pictures teamed with Screen Gems to allow 52 of their classic monster films to be aired on TV. This was called “The Shock Package,” and stations around the world employed costumed hosts to introduce the films and entertain viewers during commercial breaks. Most shows were called Shock Theatre, and the hosts were often people who already worked for the station or radio DJ’s. The Shock Package was a huge hit, and it spawned “The Son of Shock Package,” opening the door for more hosts and more films to choose from. Horror Host programs became must-see TV, and people flooded to see the hosts at public appearances. So now that you know a little about the Shock Package that helped start the ball rolling (along with Vampira, the first Horror Host), it’s time for us to take a look at some of Ohio’s hosts through the ages.

Alexander & Troggy

Alexander & Troggy

In the late 1950’s, Alexander and his pet troglodyte, Troggy, took over “Shock Theater” in Youngstown, Ohio from David Allen (a floating head who was the show’s original host) and made a small impact with viewers. Today no one is sure how many episodes and years the show ran leaving the scientist and his freakish pet a slight mystery. It’s a shame not much is known about Alexander and Troggy because from what I can gather, they would be Ohio’s second or third horror hosts ever. It also seems as if all shows have been lost, and that’s a heartbreaking for many fans and collectors who would have loved to see what misadventures these two got into. NOTE: Lost shows is a widespread issue with classic host shows. Many times stations would record over the past show to save money on film or the episodes were shot live and never recorded, leaving them lost forever.

Mad Daddy

Mad Daddy

Mad Daddy hosted “Shock Theater” for the summer of 1957 in Cleveland. Mad Daddy wore a black cape and would host the movies in all types of crazy ways including being broadcasted upside down. Viewers complained about the weirdness, and Mad Daddy went off the air pretty quickly. Mad Daddy’s run was just for a summer, but the Horror Host went on to be a radio DJ and semi-celebrity who recorded songs like “I Love a Good Practical Joke.” In June 1958, he parachuted over Lake Eerie while writing a poem as a publicity stunt. Mad Daddy continued to work in radio until 1968 when sadly he took his own life. Mad Daddy played his character very creepy and overly happy with a wonderful sinister laugh. After television he took the character on many radio shows for many stations. He also inspired punk rock band The Cramps who wrote the song “Mad Daddy” about the Horror Host/Radio DJ. Much like Alexander and Troggy, his short run of hosting Shock Theater seems to be lost forever as no known episodes have come to light.

Bargain City Kid and Willie Thall

The Bargain City Kid & Willie Thall

Cincinnati’s “Shock Theatre” was hosted by The Bargain City Kid and his sidekick Willie Thall in the early 1960’s and was sponsored by The Kid’s own discount store called Rinks. The Bargain City Kid wore a cowboy hat and toy guns and would spend most of the show doing silly things and featuring items that were on sale at the store. Many times they would also do skits with pro wrestlers like the original Sheik to promote the wrestling shows on the air or currently in town. The Bargain City Kid and Willie Thall would also announce for pro wrestling and are Cincinnati’s first horror hosts. Sadly, Thall passed away in 2005, and Kid passed away in 2007. Like the hosts mentioned above, all known shows are missing and are much sought after by fans of this classic host team.

Ghoulardi

Ghoulardi

In 1963 Ghoulardi began hosting Cleveland’s “Shock Theater” and would go on to become a local icon and one of Ohio’s most popular hosts. In addition to Shock Theater, Ghoulardi hosted numerous other shows around the area, always keeping him in the minds of the viewers. Ghoulardi was a hipster kind of guy with a quick wit, fake goatee and a mess of a wig. The fun, kid-friendly host opened doors for many hosts that followed, not to mention was the direct influence to such hosts as The Ghoul, Son of Ghoul and Big Chuck. In 1966, Ghoulardi stepped away from the show and went to California where he became the voice of ABC and did voiceovers for shows like McGyver and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Ghoulardi passed away in 1997 leaving a great legacy. Ghoulardi’s image was also shown many times in “The Drew Carry Show,” that was set in Cleveland. Another fun fact is that his son is Paul Thomas Anderson, director of films like “Boogie Nights” and “There Will Be Blood”. Ghoulardi’s show has some episodes floating around. While not available to the masses, they can be found on tape trade lists. In 2011 Ghoulardi was inducted into the new Horror Host Hall of Fame, making him one of three Ohio hosts to receive this high honor.

Hoolian, Little John and Big Chuck

Hoolihan, Big Chuck & Little John

1966 in Cleveland saw the exit of Ghoulardi but the start of “The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show.” It took the true horror out of hosting but mixed in lots of humor with a sketch comedy approach, and the show proved to be a hit. Big Chuck, who worked on Shock Theater with Ghoulardi, was chosen alongside his friend Hoolihan to fill the time slot and host the night’s movie. The two were a beloved team until 1979 when Hoolihan left the show, and Little John stepped into the mix to co-host. The combo of Big Chuck and Little John was a perfect fit, and the two worked together until 2007 when the show finally came to an end. Big Chuck has over 40 years of hosting under his belt and still remains a popular local celebrity. He even wrote a book called My Favorite Stories From 47 Years On Cleveland TV. Many continue to argue about who was better to host the films with Big Chuck. Some say that it was Hoolihan because he was there when the show was fresh and new, but others say Little John who had great comedic timing. Whoever you prefer, the show was a great time, and lots of the Big Chuck and Little John shows are still around.

Cool Ghoul

The Cool Ghoul

In 1969 Cincinnati got another host by the name of The Cool Ghoul with a show called “Scream-In.” The Cool Ghoul wore a red wig, a goofy hat and cape and would spend time reading fan mail, talking to his off screen friend and being your every day silly ghoul. He became a hit and even recorded an album called “The Cool Ghoul’s Phantasmagorical Funny Fonograf Record.” There was also a dance called Cool Ghoul, naturally. The Cool Ghoul also made public appearances much to the delight of fans of all ages. Scream-In’s time was up in 1972, but despite such a short time on the air, The Cool Ghoul became an Ohio hosting icon and has inspired many other local hosts. The Cool Ghoul passed away in 2004, leaving behind many great memories for those who watched him late nights. Some of The Cool Ghoul’s show footage has survived and can be found in the hands of collectors and on trade lists. In 2011, the Cool Ghoul was inducted into the first class of hosts in the Horror Host Hall of Fame, acclaiming his importance in the community of hosts.

Superhost

Superhost

Superheros wanted to host films too, and in 1969 Cleveland had one who just did that when Superhost brought his “Supes On” pre-show and more important “Saturday Afternoon Mad Theater” to viewers. Superhost was a goofball of a hero who would wear a Superman inspired costume and a red clown nose. He would introduce the films, tell jokes and do a few sketches. His antics would entertain viewers so much that even when Saturday Afternoon Mad Theater was cancelled, Superhost continued to host Three Stooges shorts, cartoons, The Munsters and Batman for the station. He’s the first host I know of who had his own pre-show! Superhost was a child-friendly host who made his way into Cleveland culture by lasting on TV for many years. Superhost would hang up his cape in 1992 and step away from hosting. Clips and a few full shows can be found on trade lists and on Youtube.

The Ghoul

The Ghoul

Cleveland had its share of hosts that include Hoolihan & Big Chuck, Superhost and Mad Daddy. All made their mark on the area but none made as massive an impact as Ghoulardi who inspired this next host: The Ghoul. The Ghoul hit Cleveland airwaves in 1971 with his self titled show and would become yet another icon in Cleveland horror. The Ghoul was an almost re-birthed version of Ghoulardi, a quick witted hipster who wore the fake goatee, mustache and crazy wig like his idol. The Ghoul, who could have easily been a carbon copy of his idol, quickly showed he had his own oddball style that fans were quick to embrace. The Ghoul would go on to have his show in syndication and would make numerous public and radio appearances. With his show no longer on traditional television, he continues to make episodes that can be viewed via a subscription on his website. The Ghoul also started his career working for Ghoulardi as well as Hoolihan & Big Chuck as an assistant, gearing him up for his run as a beloved horror host. His show can be found on trade lists, youtube in clips and via his official website.

Dr. Creep

Dr. Creep

For years Dayton, Ohio got their horror host fix from bigger cities like Cincinnati and hosts like the Bargain City Kid. But in 1974 Dr. Creep hit the airwaves hosting “Shock Theatre,” and a true Dayton original was born. Dr. Creep started out as a spooky vampire-like ghoul named Dr. Death, but very quickly his character and name changed to a kid friendly goofy ghoul named Dr. Creep. He became so popular that he also began hosting Clubhouse 22, an after school kids’ show. In 1980 Shock Theatre ended, switched air-date and time and became Saturday Night Dead running until 1985. Years would go by and other horror hosts begin shows, but in 1999 New Shock Theater was unleashed on public access and Dr. Creep brought horror and laughs to another generation of viewers for six years. Dr. Creep was also a man with a big heart as he ran charities, hosted a horror movie marathon called Horrorama for years, did numerous conventions and guest spots on many other shows. One of the big attractions for The Creeper was his schedule of October public appearances at Foy’s Halloween Shop in Fairborn where he would make the Halloween season feel even more special. Sadly Dr. Creep passed away in 2011 leaving a legacy that will never be matched. Dr. Creep merchandise and episodes can be found on DVD via his official site and clips can be seen on Youtube. In 2011, Dr Creep was inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame, one of the first 13 hosts to receive this honor.

Fritz the Nite Owl

Fritz The Nite Owl

Fritz The Nite Owl started in 1974 and was Columbus’s first local horror host/ He hosted films 7 days a week,and became a staple of TV sets all over the city. Fritz is a laid back host who peppered witty comments into his segments and was known for his trademark owl sunglasses. The show had a very psychedelic feel with lots of bright colors and special effects. “Nite Owl Theatre” would run Monday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday while “Double Chiller Theatre” would have Fritz hosting two films on Friday. His first run lasted until 1991, and he would come back two other times for other stations in smaller runs finally ending in 2003. But in 2010 he returned to hosting duties and is still going strong and building an even bigger fan base. Fritz became so big that he won 5 Emmy’s and even had a cameo in a DC comic book were he helped Superman and Captain Marvel save the world! If you would like to see episodes of Fritz The Nite Owl, you can get DVDs from his official website, watch clips on YouTube or find some on trade lists.

Moana

Moana

In the early 80’s Elvira became the “it” ghoul of horror hostesses and many imitations popped up, including Moana who hosted “Moana’s Place” in Columbus beginning 1983. She lived up to being a sexy goth ghoul in a tight black dress. The show, while short lived, did manage to gain a fan base who enjoyed Moana’s silly skits and her easy on the eyes look. At this time no known episodes are around leaving this Ohio horror hostess’ show a much sought after piece of horror host history.

We’ve made it to the early 80’s and there are many more hosts to explore. So look for part of Ohio Shock that will cover the rest of the 80’s to present day hosts. And if you would like to learn more about horror hosts, you can visit Horrorhound Weekend March 23-25 2012 in Columbus where hosts from around the world will gather to greet fans and induct the 2012 class into the Horror Host Hall of Fame. For more info visit www.horrorhoundweekend.com.

Till next time: stay scary Dayton!

Thanks to: Norman N. Brassfield, Bob Hinton, Richard Martin, Juliet Fromholt, Stephen Alexander II and Corpse S. Chris for their help with this article.

-Matthew Brassfield

Springfield, Ohio Museum Becomes Smithsonian Affiliate

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Springfield is now home to the only Smithsonian Affiliate art museum in the state of Ohio. The distinction celebrates the museum’s adherence to best practices and its exemplary permanent collection, which features artists such as Berenice Abbott, George Bellows and A.T. Bricher.

“Having this affiliation will connect the nationally-recognized name of Smithsonian with the high quality collections already featured at the museum,” said Ann Fortescue, director of the Springfield Museum of Art. “This affiliation enables us to showcase an even broader scope of exhibits and sustain a more vibrant public profile by sharing Smithsonian collections.”

The Springfield Museum of Art holds accreditation by the American Association of Museums, an achievement that helped garner the Smithsonian Affiliation. This distinction recognizes the museum’s adherence to best practices for museums. The Springfield Museum of Art exhibits strong, regionally focused collections of American art, which was also a factor in the decision-making process.

In addition to its local, regional and national exhibits, the Springfield Museum of Art regularly hosts community events, works with local schools to offer art education and teams with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for an outdoor summer concert series.

“It’s encouraging to see a local art museum have such a strong presence in the community,” said Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations. “We’re proud to collaborate with the Springfield Museum of Art, because this museum is a true representation of the Smithsonian Affiliate Program’s continued push to broaden the experiences of museum-goers and the community as a whole.”

About Smithsonian Affiliations
Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops collaborative partnerships with museums and educational and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian Institution resources with Americans in their communities. Smithsonian Affiliations works with affiliates to enrich communities with Smithsonian scholars, public programs and professional development opportunities. More information about the Smithsonian Affiliations program and a list of current affiliates are available at http://www.affiliations.si.edu.

About Springfield Museum of Art
Since 1946, the Springfield Museum of Art has served the region as a premier destination for the promotion, preservation, study and appreciation of historical and contemporary American artwork. Known for its amazing permanent collection and cutting-edge exhibitions, the museum collects, exhibits and preserves works of art for the benefit of all individuals while encouraging the education, participation and appreciation of the arts.

Visit the Museum at 107 Cliff Park Road – Springfield, Ohio 45501 – 937-325-4673

Museum Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 4:30 pm
Monday CLOSED
Adults $5.00
Members and children 18 and under FREE
Wittenberg Students, Alumni, Staff and Faculty Members FREE
Sundays FREE

CityFolk Volunteer Registration Now Open

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Volunteer for the 2012 Cityfolk Festival, you’ll have fun and get a pretty cool t-shirt, too!

The Cityfolk Festival depends on the help of nearly 1,000 volunteers to make the Festival hum. The festival will run from Fri, June 29th through Sun, July 1st this year.  Volunteers greet Festival visitors at the entrance gates, pour beer as part of the Beer Crew, make sure the artists and staff are well fed as members of the Hospitality Crew, and much, much more. There’s a volunteer job for everyone!

If you’re willing to work at least one 3 hour shift, they need your help! All volunteers receive training and a free Cityfolk Festival Volunteer t-shirt. This year they’re using a new registration system that will make it easier for you to check on your shifts, and will remember you from year to year. Simply click here to get started.

Want to know the schedule first? They’ll start announcing artists at the end of March, and share the schedule in May.

Small Effort: Big Effect

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There’s a lot of work to do to continue to make our region vibrant and exciting. Some jobs are so big and we as community members feel helpless to do anything.

This isn’t that kind of story.

Give here.

Before the Clean-Up

This is a story about a group of people who had a simple vision and they are getting it done! Last year at the 2011 updayton Summit, a Creative Communities team emerged with the idea that our neighborhoods are great assets to the community and they should be walkable, accessible and friendly. Nice idea, right? So, how do you DO something about it?

Safe and Accessible After Clean-Up

The Creative Communities team (CC) focused on the pedestrian walkway that crosses 35 and connects the historic neighborhoods of South Park and Oregon District. These two neighborhoods have active neighborhood associations, easy access to entertainment and recreation, and beautiful parks. A bridge connecting the two (and helping neighbors avoid 35 when traveling) makes perfect sense.

Unfortunately, no one wanted to walk over the walkway. Overgrown weeds, tight corners, and a general rusty broken-down look made it feel unsafe. CC came up with a big job for volunteers, but one they knew they could do and do well with the right support.

At the end of last summer they hosted a major clean-up day. It’s impressive what a little elbow grease can do to de-weed, clean and make the bridge a lot more appealing and usable. But they’re not done yet. They don’t want it ‘not ugly.’ They want to see it as a favorite place for community members to enjoy (especially with its close access to parks). It’s gettin’ prettified!

Wanna know where YOU come in? They need your help in three ways:

1) Come out for the follow-up clean up (prepping for the painting) on April 28.

2) Come out for the painting (grown-up paint by numbers = awesome) on May 5.

3) Help out the kick-starter campaign so they can get all the materials they need to make this happen and keep it going into the future. The thing about kick-starter: yeah, a big donation is awesome. But your $5 matched up with the donations from 10 other people giving $5 adds up pretty quick.

Here’s a video from YouTube that will help you know what to expect at the Paint Day this May. Don’t pass up being a part of this opportunity!

Dynamite With A Laser Beam, DPO’S Rockin’ Orchestra Series Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind!

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Do you remember first time you heard the music of Beethoven, or stomped and clapped to “We Will Rock You” in a crowd? These shared experiences are so important and the arts are where we meet for such events. There’s a catch phrase I see around Dayton that I appreciate to the fullest, “Culture Creates Community.” This is being beautifully pulled off by the DPO with a series such as “Rockin’ Orchestra”

3 shows have come and gone in this seasons’ series, and the DPO has proven that music lovers of all ages are hungry to experience the soundtracks of their lives in a different way. I call this genre “Rockestra”. (I admit. I stole that word from an old “Wings” song title. It just seems to fit.) I’ve heard these called “jukebox musicals” but I don’t think that phrase captures the almost atom crushing power of what happens in the Schuster during these performances.

The current “Rockin’ Orchestra” season kicked off in Nov. of 2011with special guests, “Three Dog Night: Live with Orchestra”. In February the touring rockestra company “Windborne” brought “The Music of Pink Floyd”. I still have goose bumps from that show.

Last Saturday, “The Music of Queen. A Rock and Symphonic Spectacular”, rolled into town with a touring company from the UK led by guest conductor, Maestro Richard Sidwell.  This show, on the season calendar months in advance, was scheduled to run only one performance, 8:00. A sell out occurred quickly and the DPO added a second performance for 3:00 to fill the popular demand.

The company that brought us the “Queen” show this past weekend was comprised of theatrical performers who have been cast in various productions throughout London’s West End including, but not limited to, the musical, “We Will Rock You.”

“We Will Rock You” was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with “Queen” members Brian May and Roger Taylor and opened in London’s West End “Dominion Theatre” in 2002. The story is the classic tale of a misguided prophet as the central character, sent to warn the world about something and there’s doom against a dystopian back drop, all set to a heart pounding soundtrack. This musical was immediately panned by critics and lost the interest of Robert De Niro’s production company, “Tribeca”. That did not stop the show from going on. The musical has not only survived its critics, but continues to play to packed houses around the world and is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year.

Various cast members from this musical comprise a spinoff company specific to the London based show. Unlike other rockestra’s, they only do music as arranged for “We Will Rock You.” On tour they present the musical, without the story or the costumes. Included in this production touring company are 4 vocalists, a 6 piece rock band, (keys, guitars, bass, drums), and the original arranger of “We Will Rock You”, Maestro Richard Sidwell at the helm as conductor.

Including the DPO, over 70 musicians were on the stage for this spectacular; four vocalists, (Jenna Lee James, Rachael Wooding, Sean Jenness & Justin Sargent), lead the audience through 2 acts of the 27 song set list. They more than do Sidwell’s arrangements justice. Vocally stellar, they keep the energy in high gear from the first belted note to the encore.  The band was tight and in top form. Impeccable and talented, this ensemble cast really gave every sold out seat it’s money’s worth.

That said, I was disappointed in the “brand” of this show. The arrangements, although worthy of the high praise, were not the experience of the music of “Queen” and a live orchestra that I was ramped up for.  I was ready for eerie layered vocals and hypodermic guitars. The energy was there, the talent was there but the edge was not. Knowing Brian May has been loosely involved in the “We Will Rock You” production and reading about his hand picking “American Idol” star Adam Lambert to lead in a newly formed “Queen”, I understood where this vision might have come from.

I felt like amazing guitar players were almost hidden and didn’t surface accept for key moments such as the intro to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen” and “We Are the Champions”. Missing from the set list was “Best Friend” which features one of my all time favorite “Queen” guitar licks and vocal harmony tracks. Also missing, the backing vocal harmonies on “Somebody to Love”. This was a missed opportunity to redeem what was missing from the trademark “Queen” sound but was redirected to the big gigantic, (although perfectly delivered), ending. “Queen” is the only band in history to marry opera and rock, not just classical music and rock. As a fan, seeing any such performance that falls short of celebrating that core is not acceptable. Being a “feeler” it’s always more about the experience than the show. I wanted more goose bumps and expected more of an edge, but I respect the amount of hard work and skill that goes into a production like this.

Personal Highlights:

~ The intro piece,”Flash”. (my one goose bump moment)
~ The beautifully arranged and delivered “Who Wants to Live Forever”.
~ A very long haired guitar player head banging on stage with a full orchestra.
~The woodwind section laying down their instruments in their laps as Richard Sidwell turned to conduct the audience in the clapping on “Another One Bites the Dust” and stomping on “We Will Rock You”.
~ People of all ages raising their arms and swaying together during “We Are the Champions”.
~ The audience singing the entire second chorus of “Bohemian Rhapsody” without any vocals from the stage.

The Dayton Philharmonic is definitely right on track with bringing in a different demographic to discover what they do. The very pleasant surprise I got was the sight of elderly members of the crowd getting just as excited and animated during the songs as the younger folks. Community!

In a nutshell:
A heartfelt “2 stomps and a clap” for the touring company!  Dayton Philharmonic, You are the champions!

Check out the Dayton Philharmonic’s “Rockin’ Orchestra” series and all the other fine programs they offer! You’ll be glad you did!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ&ob=av2e’]

A Bumpy Backward Glance in “Merrily We Roll Along”

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Malcolm Gets (center) and the cast of Merrily We Roll Along (Photo by Sandy Underwood)

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s friendship-themed musical “Merrily We Roll Along,” a 1981 flop adaptation of the play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart that has become a cult favorite in the Sondheim canon, receives an underwhelming revival at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park that has nothing to do with its actors doubling as the orchestra.

In fact, Tony Award-winning director John Doyle’s actor-musician concept, a love it or hate it maneuver in the eyes of most theatergoers, is used to the same dynamic degree as his critically acclaimed productions of “Sweeney Todd” (nominated for the 2006 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical and featuring cellist Benjamin Magnuson of Kettering as Anthony Hope) and “Company” (originated at the Playhouse in the Park in 2006 and won the 2007 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical). With marvelous assistance from musical supervisor/orchestrator Mary-Mitchell Campbell, he has truly mastered the art of presenting Sondheim’s splendid music with strikingly intricate intimacy without losing any morsel of dramatic resonance. Using a cello for a bit of foreboding underscore is a particularly fine touch. However, Doyle, who previously staged “Merrily” in a similar manner at the U.K.’s Watermill Theatre in 2008, missteps directorially with awkward storytelling choices and the desire for a bleak, melancholy tone.

Chronicled in reverse from Hollywood 1976 to New York 1957, the musical concerns the triumphs and tribulations that bind close friends Franklin Shepard (a composer-turned-hotshot film producer), Charley Kringas (Franklin’s lyricist) and Mary Flynn (a writer who assumes the role of motivating mediator while secretly pining for Franklin). The trio is deeply bruised and ultimately torn apart by Franklin’s narcissistic success and destructive marriage to actress Gussie Carnegie (one of the most polarizing characters in musical theater history). Anger and bitterness consumes the characters at the outset, which can be alienating and off-putting, but their engrossing journey, sharply detailing the relatable consequences of perilous decisions, fortunately culminates with great hope.

Unlike traditional “Merrily” mountings, including last month’s delightful New York City Center Encores! presentation, Doyle oddly demands strict seamlessness (there is no intermission and no opportunity to applaud after each number) and particularly opts for middle-aged actors in the leading roles rather than casting twentysomethings or thirtysomethings. This change of pace is effective in the opening scenes, but is very difficult to accept in context as the actors, stylishly clothed in shades of blue 1970s garb by Tony winner Ann Hould-Ward, travel back in time. As so, the spirited spunk and innocent sense of wonder permeating scenes/numbers in the 1950s and 1960s (such as “Our Time,” “Opening Doors” and “Bobby and Jackie and Jack”) just doesn’t convey an impactful believability. His decision to ground the show as a downhearted portrait of a midlife crisis is simply problematic since half of the material explores the thrill of youthful optimism. Still, the most perplexing, vague element involves Frank Jr., a tiny role expanded/reinterpreted as a framing device. In an unnecessary attempt to keep Franklin and Frank Jr. mysteriously connected throughout the entire show, the potency of Franklin, Charley and Mary’s inseparable bond is reduced. Franklin is certainly the key catalyst who genuinely adores music more than anything in the world (wonderfully realized in the explosion of sheet music enveloping Tony winner Scott Pask’s stunning set), but Doyle unevenly overemphasizes his legacy. After all, the show is not titled “Merrily He Rolls Along.”

Artistic shortcomings aside, Doyle’s versatile 13-member cast is predominately admirable. Malcolm Gets, a terrific vocalist and pianist winningly showcased in “Growing Up,” is a credibly jaded, haunted and wounded Franklin, propelling the show to the point of being perceived as an introspective musical nightmare. Becky Ann Baker, a likable Mary, has difficulty with the vocal demands of the score and sustaining the remarkable impression she makes in the first 15 minutes, specifically during and after “That Frank.” As Charley, Daniel Jenkins consistently engages, offering captivating renditions of “Franklin Shepard, Inc.” and “Good Thing Going.” Leenya Rideout, an adept cellist and violinist, slithers seductively as the unappealing Gussie but is cemented in irksome iciness. Jane Pfitsch, lovely as Franklin’s first wife Beth, is a heartbreaking, vulnerable presence, providing two vastly distinct interpretations of “Not a Day Goes By,” the musical’s signature tune and one of Sondheim’s best ballads. Bruce Sabath (Joe Josephson), Jessica Tyler Wright (K.T.), Lee Harrington (Meg) and David Garry (Jerome) are also notable in featured roles. Matt Castle, Matthew Deming, Ben Diskant and Fred Rose complete the ensemble. The first-rate contributions of lighting designer Jane Cox and sound designer Dan Moses Schreier are additionally noteworthy.

I don’t foresee this production following in the footsteps of “Company” by obtaining a Broadway transfer. “Merrily” is one of Sondheim’s most accessible works, but this impassive version keeps its distance, failing to magnify the joy and emotional profundity pulsating amid the disillusionment and regret. I have been routinely impressed by Doyle (his 2008 off-Broadway staging of Sondheim and John Weidman’s “Road Show” was superb), but he took a huge risk reconceiving such an inherently complex show. In the end, I liked it the way that it was.

“Merrily We Roll Along” continues through March 31 in the Marx Theatre of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, located atop Mount Adams in Eden Park. The production is performed in 1 hour and 50 minutes without intermission. Performances are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. There will be a special matinee Wednesday, March 28 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25-$71. For tickets or more information, call 1-800-582-3208 or visit www.cincyplay.com