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Archives for August 2012

Dayton Playhouse presents ‘Side by Side by Sondheim’

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Dayton Playhouse will present Side by Side by Sondheim as its 2012-2013 Season extra September 7 – 16. This energetic musical, highlighting the most endearing of Sondheim’s early work, will be directed by Brian Sharp with musical direction by Ron Kindell, both of whom won acclaim for last season’s sold-out production of The Sound of Music.

Side by Side by Sondheim will feature local actor Saul Caplan as the master of ceremonies and vocalists Carol Chatfield and Bonnie Dobbs of Kettering, Kathy Clark of Centerville, Laura Bloomingdale of Beavercreek, Shawn Hooks of Dayton, and David Moyer of Springboro. Nancy Perrin and Bryon Dobbs are featured pianists.

When, in 1976, the owners of a small, struggling theater asked Stephen Sondheim for permission to produce a musical revue of his work as a fundraiser, the composer said he “couldn’t think of anything more boring.” However, Sondheim underestimated the appeal of his music, and when Side by Side by Sondheim opened, it charmed its initial audiences and caught the eye of a young Cameron Macintosh, who moved it to the Mermaid theater in London, where it became one of his first successful productions.

Widely produced, and popular with regional groups, Side by Side by Sondheim is often given credit for solidifying Sondheim’s reputation beyond London and New York theaters. This “boring” show has enjoyed numerous revivals, five Tony nominations, and over 800 performances on three continents.

Shawn Hooks and David Moyer in 'Side by Side'

Side by Side by Sondheim  is unique in that it is the only revue of Sondheim’s work to include music from West Side Story and Gypsy, shows for which Sondheim wrote the lyrics, but did not compose the music. It is also one of the only places for audiences to hear some of his lesser-known works such as “Love is in the Air,” which was initially intended to be the opening number for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, but was replaced with the well known “Comedy Tonight.”

Other musicals highlighted in the revue include the popular Company, Follies, and A Little Night Music, as well as rarely performed shows such as Evening Primrose, Anyone Can Whistle, and Pacific Overtures. The show features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by  Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, and Jule Styne, and Continuity by Ned Sherrin. It was produced on Broadway by Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell.

Side by Side by Sondheim opens September 7th and runs through September 16th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2PM. Tickets, priced at $17.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors, are available at www.DaytonPlayhouse.com or through the Dayton Playhouse box office at 937-424-8477.

(from Dayton Playhouse)

Eat Your Way Across The Greene for $15

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This Thursday, Aug 9th from 5-9pm the Town Square at The Greene will transform from the usual kiddy  filled fountain playground to a mini-village of  tents serving up samples from the resident eateries  at the 6th annual  The Taste of The Greene.

If you buy your ticket in advance from the Guest Services booth it’s just $15 (on the day of the event it’s $20) and you’ll get a taste from each of the participants.  Proceeds benefit The Dayton Art Institute, Martin Bayless Charitable Foundations and Muse Machine.  Beer and beverages will be available for an additional charge.  Local cover band Spungeworthy will be playing to add some fun to the festivities.
The Taste of The Greene Participants:

  • Photo by MediaMoments.com / Peter Wine

    Mimi’s Cafe

  • Bar Louie
  • Pasha Grille
  • Subway
  • The Pub
  • Panera
  • That Crepe Place
  • Asian Gourmet
  • bd’s Mongolian Barbeque
  • Fleming’s
  • The Wine Loft
  • Brio Tuscan Grille
  • Adobe Gila’s
  • Yoba
  • Cheryl & Co.

Poet and activist Christine Leclerc at Antioch College

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Christine Leclerc

Vancouver-based poet and activist Christine Leclerc will read her new works and present a workshop on craft at Antioch College August 16 and 18. While the reading and workshop are free and open to the public, registration is required for the workshop, for which seating is limited to 12 participants.

Leclerc will read her poetry at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 16, in Olive Kettering Library. She will present the workshop “Energy, Collaboration, and Form,” from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 18, in McGregor Hall, Room 130. To register for the workshop, send an email to [email protected].

Leclerc is the author of Counterfeit (Capilano University Editions, 2008) and an editor of The Enpipe Line (Creekstone Press, 2012), 70,000+ km of poetry written in resistance to the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal. She studied creative writing at the University of British Columbia, and her poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in magazines and journals across North America. She has been known to direct community theater in corporate headquarters and board oil rigs at sea.

The three-hour poetry workshop will focus on energy, collaboration and form. Participants will discuss poetic engagement with energy issues and dissect the formal or structural elements of these poems. The shared vocabulary generated by this exercise equips participants with the ability to collaborate on a new poetic form or structure. The guided writing that caps off this workshop allows participants to explore the results of their collaboration.

The Writing Institute at Antioch College sponsors Leclerc’s visit to Yellow Springs. The institute supports Antioch College’s mission and Learning Outcomes by providing members of the College community with opportunities for focused study of the writing craft. In the last year, the institute has sponsored visits and workshops by poet Ann Filemyr (A Healer’s Diary, Sunstone Press, 2012), writer and artist Nikki McClure (To the Market, To the Market, Abrams Books, 2011), journalists Liz F. Kay and John-John Williams (The Baltimore Sun), local author and Wright State professor Jeffery Alan John (A Bird in Your Hand, Lucid Books, 2010), and National Book Award winner Jaimy Gordon (Lord of Misrule, McPherson, 2010), the latter co-sponsored with The Antioch Review.

Take a Ride on the Wonderland Express

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Written by Mark Martel, FilmDayton volunteer

A mysterious device fashioned from a garage door opener changes the perspectives of four different people as they experience and are transformed by its power.  Part psychological drama, part comedy and with a dash of science fiction, The Wonderland Express premiered at the StarLite Film Fest in Winter Garden, Florida in early 2012 and won its first award. The film was invited back for a summer festival there and has been an audience favorite on the festival circuit all across the country.

Now it’s homecoming. The Wonderland Express makes its local premiere at the 2012 FilmDayton Festival in downtown Dayton at the Neon Movies on Saturday, Aug 25th. The 11 a.m. matinee screening will include the shorts The Medal and Always Believe.

Directed by Daytonian Greg Nichols, the Express stars an all-local cast including Shawn Green, Ryan Singer, Natasha Randall, Craig Roberts, and Charles Larkowski.  Nichols and Green also produced the film with Rachel Wilson.

All of the actors in the film have roots in the Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio theatre community and have extensive past experience in improvisation.  Writer/director Greg Nichols, and cast members Shawn Green and Ryan Singer were involved in the same improv group from 1998 to 2003, and their tight interplay shows onscreen.  Although the film began as a full script, most of the dialog was improvised during filming.  Cast member Natasha Randall was recently seen in the 2010 Sundance Festival Selection Take Shelter, another Ohio independent film.  Singer currently resides in Los Angeles, CA and is a feature performer of nationally touring comedian Marc Maron.

The core of the film lies in how the characters interact with a strange device and its influence on their normal everyday lives.  In this world of cell phones and GPS, today’s science can seem like magic to the average person, which is how the characters view their experiences with the device in the film as it changes their lives.  With limited understanding or preparation, their individual experiences are what lead them to different ends.

Read more about the national accolades for The Wonderland Express, the improvisation techniques used by actors, and a focus on simplicity and skill; the full article is available and tickets are on sale NOW.

The Wonderland Express will screen as part of the FilmDayton Festival on Saturday, August 25 at 11 AM at the Neon.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MS_FnKbt0E’]

Dayton Home Sales Stats for June 2012

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Dayton Home Sales Stats for June 2012 - Click Image to Enlarge

Every month the Dayton Area Board of Realtors (DABR) crunches through the sales data for the previous month and publishes the stats. They compare monthly sales to the year prior. It’s a nice way to gauge the general and overall real estate health of the Greater Dayton area.

These sales are single-family homes and condominiums reported by the Dayton Area Board of Realtors, in areas that could include everything from the Indiana border to Springfield; Celina to Hamilton, so it’s a very broad picture, so as I say with nearly every post, your community and your neighborhood might tell a very different picture- talk to a real estate agent to find the data that will directly affect your home. Commercial buildings or homes sold outside the Multiple Listing Service are not included.

So how did we do in June?

Brisk sales throughout the first six months of this year produced year-to-date across-the-board improvements over 2011. From January through June, 5,412 transactions were completed, compared to 5,014 during the same period in 2011, an increase of nearly 8%.

That’s sales. What about price?

This activity generated over $647.4 million in total sales volume for the first six months, a very strong 15.8% increase over 2011. The average sale price jumped to $119,657 while the median rose to $98,500, increases of 7.3% and 10.6%, respectively, in a year-over- year comparison.

The DABR website has other charts and graphs as well to help you make sense of what is happening in the Greater Dayton Area. Take a look!

Marion’s Offers 47% Pizza Discount Today – Thursday

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Since opening in August of 1965, Marion’s Piazza has indeed become a Dayton Tradition! It’s easy to feel the history when you walk in their stores and see walls lined with black and white autographed photo’s of stars from yesteryear.  Many of the celebrities were in town to perform with The Kenley Players, stars like Sally Field, Mickey Rooney, William Shatner, Morgan Fairchild, Tim Conway, Billy Crystal and George Hamilton, who held the cast parties at Marion’s.
Celebrating their 47 years of business means you can get a  47% discount on up to 2 pizza’s this week with the coupon below.  Large lines are anticipated and be sure to bring cash, Marion’s does not accept credit cards!   Special pricing will be offered until closing on Thursday.

Marion’s Piazza has been rated “Best Pizza” in 27 local survey’s and achieved national acclaim by being ranked  2nd in the Nation amongst all independent pizza restaurants. A true Dayton Original, between their 7 locations they employee about 275 and made a total of around 1 million pizzas in 2009.

You need actual coupon from Dayton Daily News or Reach to get the discount - they won't accept online versions.

Find the Marion’s nearest you:

241 North Fairfield Rd, Beavercreek
B
711 Shroyer Road, at Patterson Road  – (937) 293-6991‎
Rated 4.1 out of 5.0
C
3443 North Dixie Drive, at Wagoner Ford Road – (937) 277-6553‎
D
8991 Kingsridge Drive, Dayton Mall ‎ – (937) 435-3300‎
Rated 3.3 out of 5.0
E
50 East Stroop Road, Town & Country ‎ – (937) 296-1177‎
F
241 North Main Street,  Centerville – (937) 433-3993‎
404 W. National Road, Englewood (937) 832-0333
1320 North Fairfield Road, Dayton, OH‎ – (937) 429-3393‎
1270 Expieriment Farm Road, Troy (937) 339-2000
and coming soon – Mason

The Food Adventures Crew Dive Into “Olive” + DMM CONTEST

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Incredible Tasting Seared Ahi Tuna over Noodles

(Contest details below the article)

For over a year, a new, popular, and  locally immersed gourmet restaurant has generated a lot of buzz.  The Big Ragu wanted to see what all the excitement was about.  We knew a Food Adventure was imminent, but we decided to wait until the dust settled.

The name of this trendy spot is  Olive, an Urban Dive and is located on East Third Street in the refurbished former Wympee building .  The Big Ragu first experienced the brilliance of Owner Kim Collett and the staff of Olive at the “Dayton’s Most Delightful Dessert” contest at Carrillon Park.   Olive won critics choice and peoples choice awards for best dessert, essentially sweeping the event.

First off, this place is unique.  The outside decor is a cool retro vibe, while the interior is a warm inviting modern atmosphere.  Olive even has a patio with fresh herbs growing on the perimeter. The friendly serving staff is knowledgeable.  They know a lot about the food and enjoy eating at Olive themselves.  The menu has a grass roots flair and offers many choices to vegans and gourmets alike.

Food Adventures like places that keep things local.  Olive, an Urban Dive does this by using local produce and meats whenever possible.  Supporting local farmers is a good thing!  Olive make’s their hot chocolate using Esther Price chocolate. The restaurant offers wedding cake every day for dessert! They serve grass fed beef and only use free range chickens or as Olive’s advertising says “we chase chickens.”  Something to be aware of: they do not serve alcohol or syrup drinks, but have a BYOB policy so you can bring in your own favorites.

Our tip: visit them for lunch to get the best bang for your buck.  Weekday lunch hours are 11am-3pm and they have a popular brunch on Saturdays from 10am-3pm.  Olive only serves dinner Thursday – Saturday from 5-10pm.

The Urban Burger – Local, Grass-Fed Beef

The best way to see what Olive has to offer is to look at each of the pictures we have posted in the albums.  Our favorites were the mozzarella cheese bites, seared ahi tuna, fried leeks, grilled tuscan cheese and the summer squash soup.  Make sure you click on each picture and browse our photo album, the food speaks for itself.

 Have you been to Olive, An Urban Dive?  Please comment below and tell us about your experience!

Don’t forget to “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE !!

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/OliveUrbanDive/]

 Dayton Most Metro Contest

We have a $20 gift certificate to give away to a lucky winner – simply fill out the form below and then leave a comment telling us if you’ve ever tried Olive, An Urban Dive.  We’ll pick a random winner some time over the weekend – GOOD LUCK!

Contest Closed

Congratulations to Hunter Johnson – he is our winner!

The Anatomy of Dayton Fashion Week: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Part 1)

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Lawd a mercy…where do I even start??  When I first heard that someone was trying to bring a Fashion Week to Dayton in September of 2011, I immediately got excited and went to work on trying to find out who this Junda Morris-Kennedy person was, I called, I wrote, I googled, I Facebooked, pretty much I stalked her until she finally responded!!  I offered my assistance thinking that this Dayton Fashion Week thing was just going to be a cute little fashion show—BOY WAS I WRONG because This “Dayton Fashion Week Thing” turned out to be an International Fashion Spectacular that can only be summed up into three categories:  The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly…of course there was more Good than anything else.(que Ennio Morricone please)

The Good

The Friendships: Excuse me while I get a little teary eye’d  and sappy but in the course of the past 10 months I had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people and even better we became more than friends we became a family.

To the models, I want you to know how much I love and respect each and every one of you! As a former model myself, I set out to do for all of you the things that I wish I had accomplished in my career!  Modeling isn’t an easy career to break into and all too often your hard work, passion, and dedication are dismissed and go unappreciated because you are “just a blank slate” and I want you to know that you are more than that. From the very first calls that we made to you after the casting calls and hearing your excitement and even tears of joy made me feel like a Fairy Godmother making a dream come true. And every event thereafter you went out and represented Dayton Fashion Week and let the whole world know that we had officially arrived on the Fashion Scene.

To the designers, WOW is all that I know to say!!  Actually Wow and Thank You!  It wasn’t an easy process finding designers to be a part of the first year of Dayton Fashion Week.  I remember sitting at Junda’s house going over plans for the casting call and being really worried about the lack of commitments that we had from designers and doubting whether or not we could go on as planned with DFW.  But in true DFW style we continued to reach out and slowly but surely you all answered the call, stepping out on Faith and risking your names and reputations to be a part of this Inaugural event.  To say that I was  blown away by your presentations throughout the week would be the understatement of the century!  Your drive and push to make this event the success that it was will never be forgotten.  I’ll be hitting some of you up soon for my custom orders!!

To the Photography team, Lamar Pacely, Robert Coyle, Pete Bradow, Krissy Mills, Cj Kim, and Cliff Fennell, I don’t know very many if any photographers let alone photographers as talented as you all are, who are willing to give up so much of their time voluntarily. You rose to the occasion with each phone call and yes even the last minute cover shoot calls!! If a picture tells a thousand words then your efforts made it a thousand and one!

To the Hair and Makeup Team— Great job Angelica Ross DFW’s Creative Director of Cosmetics, Elite Hair Academy, Stacia McVey, and The Hair Gallery.  McKinnley Pierre of Inside Couture said it best, “Dayton Fashion Week’s Hair and Makeup team was better than any such teams that I’ve seen in Miami Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and L.A. Fashion Week, so my hat’s off to them.”  What more can I say?

To Maha Kashani—thank you so much for welcoming me to your hood!! lol   From the very moment that I contacted you about DFW. You jumped on board and worked your butt off to make sure that this event was a success. You are Dayton, you are the bomb, you are the best, you are amazing, you are fabulous, and all of the positive adjectives that you can name but most importantly you are my friend.  Without you and your work there wouldn’t be a Dayton Fashion Week.

To Junda Morris-Kennedy—We did it!!  This was not an easy journey, we climbed up the rough side of the mountain together and I’m honored to call you more than a friend you are my sister.  We put in countless hours in planning, we worked together, cried together, we even disagreed a couple of times, and when push came to shove…we always had each others back and like real sisters we toughed it out, stepped out on faith, kept God first, and kept on climbing to the top of that mountain.  Thank you so much for taking me under your wing and teaching me another side of the industry, for believing in me, and allowing me to be a part of a positive event for the city I love!  I love you from the bottom of my heart.

The Bad

In the days and weeks leading up to Dayton Fashion Week we were rocked by a series of tragedies that shook us to the core.  Junda suffered the loss of several family members back to back and 6 days before the Kickoff to Dayton Fashion Week on July 18 at the age of 37, Junda suffered a stroke.  I was thrown into the leadership position and was faced with answering a challenging question…Will DFW continue? Not knowing all of the details of the business end of things, I called a last minute emergency meeting that was opened with prayer led by DFW Event Manager Cindy Gaboury and the number of people that showed up and the outpouring of support I received gave me the strength to go on and reaffirmed that cancellation WAS NOT AN OPTION!!

On Friday July 20, DFW’s Executive Producer and MTV’s Made Coach Kyle Haggerty, called his best friend to pick him up to take him to the airport to fly into Dayton and help with Dayton Fashion Week’s preparations. The weather was bad that day and his friend never arrived because he had been killed in a car accident on his way to pick up Kyle leaving him completely devastated and cancelling his trip to be a aprt of DFW.

On Sunday July 22, our Director of Public Relations Tamieka Kent had to step down from her DFW duties when she received a phone call requiring her to leave town to be at her mother’s side who had emergency open heart surgery.

The Ugly

I’ll keep this short,in the days leading up to DFW and when Dayton Fashion Week was struggling to survive after being rocked by back to back to back tragedies there were attempts made to kick us when we were down by those who we bent over backwards for the most to help and accommodate.  Did I mention those were FAILED ATTEMPTS??

Back To The Good

Surely you didn’t think that I was going to let the ugly outshine the good right?  As McKinnely Pierre the Executive Producer of Inside Couture told me when he called to check on me the other day.  “Don’t let a couple of barking dogs steal your joy, especially when you have hundreds of silent ones standing behind you who have your back”. This is only the beginning  and you know my motto Dayton Fashion Week #ItJustKeepsGettinBetter 2013 here we come!!  News Flash WE ALREADY HAVE DESIGNERS FROM BRAZIL, LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA, INDIA, JAMAICA, AND YES DAYTON GETTING READY FOR 2013

Stay tuned for Part 2 and be sure to check out our Facebook Page to see all of the wonderful images captured by Dayton Fashion Weeks Photographers at Facebook.com/daytonfashion.

‘Nureyev’s Eyes’ wins Dayton Playhouse FutureFest

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Darren Brown (l) and Tim Behnken in Nureyev's Eyes (Photo by Art Fabian)

Introspective character study “Nureyev’s Eyes” by David Rush of Murphysboro, Illinois took top honors at the 22nd annual Dayton Playhouse FutureFest, a nationally recognized festival of previously unproduced works in progress held July 27-29 at the Playhouse.

Delicately directed by Annie Pesch, “Nureyev’s Eyes” chronicled the 1970s bond between American painter Jamie Wyeth and legendary Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev. This one-act two-hander, told from Wyeth’s perspective and heightened by projections of his attractive creations, commendably if tamely explored the depths of artistic complexity and the value of friendship. Although the play, bound to entice the New York arts community, remains unbalanced in terms of its narrative and thematic appeal (the meekly Wyeth isn’t as compelling or exciting as the deliciously fussy Nureyev) perhaps Rush will regard the protagonists as engrossing equals in future rewrites. Darren Brown’s breakthrough performance as Nureyev, an impressive blend of sophistication, flair, pomposity and heartbreak authentically molded vocally by dialect coach Fran Pesch, and Tim Behnken’s earnest portrayal of Wyeth memorably climaxed with a tender pas de deux choreographed by Gayle Smith.

“I was surprised that I had won because the quality of all the plays was so high,” said Rush, awarded $1,000 for his winning work. “But I was very pleased to learn that my play held the stage and had the power to entertain and move an audience. I have had several other readings of the play and have had a few production inquiries. I now feel the play is ready to move ahead.”

“Nureyev’s Eyes” was also chosen as the audience favorite, scored highest among six finalists based on criteria such as character development, concept, language and plot. This year’s professional adjudicating team consisted of New York-based trio David Finkle, Helen Sneed and Eleanore Speert, 2002 FutureFest finalist Robert Koon (“Vintage Red and the Dust of the Road”) of Chicago Dramatists and 1997 FutureFest winner Faye Sholiton (“The Interview”), who founded Interplay Jewish Theatre in Cleveland.

“Nureyev’s Eyes”  has a lot of theatricality in a play with just two people – that is extraordinary,” said Sholiton. “Language is character, and there is growth and consistency with each character.” “The most moving thing “Nureyev’s Eyes” does is make us understand ourselves,” added Koon. “This is a wonderful play about the power of art to make our lives bigger.”

The remaining finalists, chosen from over 170 submissions across the country and internationally, were the Canadian suffrage-themed romantic comedy “A Political Woman” by 2010 FutureFest finalist Joel Fishbane (“Short Story Long”) of Quebec, Canada; the wine and World War II-themed drama “Provenance” by Daniel Weber of Great Neck, New York; noir-tinged mystery “Curve” by Sam Havens of Houston, Texas; overlapping fossil and family-themed drama “Excavation” by Robert Barron of New York City; and futuristic family drama “This Rough Magic” by 2009 FutureFest finalist Richard Manley (“Quietus”) of New York City. Each playwright received $100.

In addition to Brown and Behnken, the FutureFest casts consisted of Sarah Caplan, Matthew Glenn, Ray Geiger, Shawn Hooks, Jennifer Lockwood and Laura Bloomingdale of “A Political Woman” under the direction of Cynthia Karns; Saul Caplan, Ellen Finch, Megan Cooper and Alex Carmichael of “Provenance” under the direction of David Shough; Geoff Burkman, Ernest Lawson, Debra Strauss and Laura Estandia of “Curve” under the direction of Jim Lockwood; Dave Gaylor, Shawn Hooks, Aidan Kesson, Lynn Kesson, Brad Bishop, Michael D. Halsey, Charles Larkowski, Annie Branning and Franklin Johnson of “Excavation” under the direction of Nancy Campbell; and Richard Croskey, Carol Narigon, John Bukowski, Wendi Michael, Kelli Locker and Richard Young of “This Rough Magic” under the direction of Gayle Smith.

Rush won the 2006 FutureFest for his whimsical comedy “Estelle Singerman” (he is the first repeat winner in the festival’s history) and remains grateful for the opportunity to have been showcased once more. He warmly regards the festival as a vital component in the growth of emerging plays and playwrights.

“Festivals like FutureFest are very important to the development of new plays for the American theater because it gives writers a chance to see how their play works before an audience in a non-commercial, no-risk situation,” he said. “We learn what holds the audience, what material is clear or not, what needs to be added or cut. Plus, such festivals give us a chance to meet and share our work with fellow playwrights.”

For more information about FutureFest or to submit a play for next year’s festival, visit www.daytonplayhouse.com. For additional information, contact FutureFest program director Fran Pesch at (937) 424-8477 or e-mail [email protected].

My FutureFest Rankings:

  1. “A Political Woman”
  2. “Excavation”
  3. “Nureyev’s Eyes”
  4. “Provenance”
  5. “Curve”
  6. “This Rough Magic”

In other news:

  • The Dayton Playhouse’s special fundraising screening of Frank Catalano’s family drama “Autumn Sweet,” originally presented by First Stage Productions under the direction of Greg Smith, will be held Saturday, August 4 at 7 p.m. at the Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. The film is produced by John and Marty Riley and features John Riley, Ame Clase, Dodie Lockwood, Micah Stock and Jim Harworth. A suggested donation of $10 will be accepted at the door. For more information, contact the Playhouse at (937) 424-8477.
  • David Brush, artistic director of Encore Theater Company, is the lead producer of the Aug. 31-Sept. 8 New York developmental production of “Hot Mess in Manhattan: The Musical,” starring Cait Doyle. “This funny, touching musical features the work of no less than 12 of the most exciting new songwriters and songwriting teams working today,” said Brush in an e-mail statement. “If you want to hear the new sound of the American musical, ‘Hot Mess in Manhattan’ is it. And if you want to see the birth of a star, look no further than Cait Doyle.” In order to fund the workshop, to be held in association with the New York Theatre Barn and the Araca Project, the “Hot Mess” creative team is reaching out to the public for tax-deductible contributions. If you would like to contribute or would like more information about the show, visit hotmessinmanhattan.com.
  • The Muse Machine will present “Too Darn Hot: The Songs of Summer” Thursday, August 9 at 8 p.m. at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. Concert selections encompass Broadway, disco, classical and pop. Tickets are $20-$52. For tickets or more information, contact Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Downtown Buildings Will Be Lit Friday for Photo Contest

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Amateur winner Bruce Soifer's photo of the Dayton skyline, taken during downtown's light up night in 2011.

From 8 to 11 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 3, most of downtown’s buildings will be lit for photographers who would like to capture city nightscapes to enter in the photo contest Downtown in Focus. While photographers can enter photos taken during the night or day, tomorrow evening will be an opportunity to take shots when downtown Dayton’s skyline will be brightly lit.

The owners of 27 downtown buildings — including the Kettering Tower, KeyBank Tower, CareSource building and new Premier Health Partners Center — have agreed to light up for the evening.  A complete list follows, and photographers interested in knowing if a specific building will be lit up can visit www.downtowndayton.org or contact Anna Beyerle at 224-1518, ext. 235.

Downtown eatery Smokin' BBQ lights up near the Oregon District.

The buildings will be lit during First Friday, downtown’s free monthly art hop. This week’s event will feature a free concert by Stranger at RiverScape MetroPark from 5 to 7:30 p.m., as well as gallery openings at locations throughout downtown, a variety of roaming entertainers, and much more from 5 to 10 p.m. Click here for details about events taking place during this month’s First Friday.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership, City of Dayton, Kaplan College and Dayton Daily News are sponsoring Downtown in Focus. One amateur winner and one professional winner will be selected in each of the following categories:

  • Downtown Festivals: Images showcasing individuals or unique moments at any of downtown Dayton’s summer events or festivals.
  • Active Downtown: Photographs featuring people participating in active lifestyle activities, such as biking, kayaking, dancing and running in downtown Dayton.
  • Scenic Downtown: Creative images featuring buildings, architecture, skylines, parks, the river or any other picturesque view of downtown.
  • Best in Show (selected by the judges)

CareSource Management Group's building is a staple among downtown's bright lights.

A panel of judges will select the winners in each category and award a $250 cash prize to the Best in Show winner in each division. Honorable mentions also will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Contest winners will be recognized at the Sept. 14 Urban Nights and all entries will be displayed in a special exhibit during Urban Nights.

The deadline to submit photos is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. Official contest guidelines and entry forms are available at www.downtowndayton.org.

Cast Your Vote For Top Model in Hospice Style Show

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The Jungle of Life Style Show and Luncheon to benefit Hospice of Dayton will be held Friday, September 21 at the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College. This popular fundraiser showcases the latest in men’s and women’s fashions while raising important funds for Hospice of Dayton patient and family services and programs. Local celebrity models will share the runway with Hospice of Dayton employees. All proceeds of the event benefit patient care at Hospice of Dayton for those facing life- limiting illnesses. Vectren, Premier Health Partners and the Levin Family Foundation are title sponsors of the event, now in its ninth year. The dessert sponsor is Caresource and supporting sponsors include Freund Freeze & Arnold LLC, KeyBank, Garland Johnson Dental and Photographer Andy Snow . The program will be hosted by WDTN TV news anchor Marsha Bonhart.

Tickets are $70 per person and the deadline for registration is September 14, 2012. Tickets may be purchased online at www.hospiceofdayton.org, or by contacting Special Events Coordinator Marsha Bernard [email protected] or 937.258.5537. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For sponsorship information, please contact the Director, Community Outreach & Special Events, Amanda Burks at 937.258.5537 or email her at [email protected].

Event highlights will include a silent auction, a “wild” style show featuring fashions from Bello One, Pieces of Style, TheSecret Ingredient and Joli Boutique, and a fabulous raffle featuring unique items and experiences, including a trip to Grand Cayman. Also new this year is the online “Top Model” Contest. Hospice is asking you to cast your vote for your favorite model.  That might be Brent Johnson from Square One Salon, Kim Faris  from Lite 99.9, Bootsie Neal from Wright Dunbar, or a  dozen more choices.  Votes are $5 each and online voting in now online. The model with the most votes will be crowned “Top Model” at the luncheon and all proceeds raised will be used for patient care and services.

Hospice of Dayton is a non-profit organization serving an eight county area in southwestern Ohio providing superior care and services to over 700 patients daily. Medicare certified and accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Hospice of Dayton has earned national and state recognition for programs and innovation. Services are available to patients with a variety of life-limiting illnesses including cancer, ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Pulmonary Diseases, Kidney Failure, Stroke and Coma. Along with the fundamental mission of celebrating the lives of patients, Hospice of Dayton is also committed to serving as a community resource for end-of-life education and an advocate for patient self-determination.

Coming up in Dayton Theatre 8/3 – 8/12

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I’m hot. I mean, these dog days we’ve been having? They’re hot, friends. Sticky, muggy, relentless…true “height of Summer” kind of weather. Thank you, Mother Nature or muchos gracias El Nino. Whichever it is, it’s days like this where I keep myself sane looking forward to the upcoming fall. A time that will be as cool, crisp and refreshing as that first sip of apple cider in September. With that in mind, I dedicate this edition of my humble little biweekly base-touch to not only what is coming up immediately, but what Autumn, blessed Fall will bring us in the Dayton Theatre Scene. But first!

Future Fest Wrap-up!

And The Winner Is …

Nureyev’s Eyes by David Rush, directed by Annie Pesch. This play also won the “audience favorite” award.

The other finalists were ranked by audience appreciation as follows:

A Political Woman by Joel Fishbane (directed by Cynthia Karns)

Curve by Sam Havens (directed by Jim Lockwood)

Excavation by Rob Barron (directed by Nancy Campbell)

Provenance by Dan Weber (directed by David Shough)

This Rough Magic by Richard Manley (directed by Gayle Smith)

As always, Future Fest 2012 was an exciting weekend of drama, comedy, fun and friends. Though my play did not win, I had an absolute blast and I believe the playwrights, adjudicators and my fellow actors and audience members did as well. Huge thanks go out to the Dayton Playhouse and Future Fest board and staff of volunteers. I’m already excited for Future Fest 2013.

Opening This Weekend!

 

Musical Theatre Workshop

The Human Race Theatre Company/The Loft Theatre

The Skinny: Another festival of new works, The Human Race Theatre Company’s annual Musical Theatre Workshop will take place August 3rd – 5th at The Loft Theatre.  This program is designed to develop original musicals, to provide an avenue for that very important “second production” and to encourage appreciation of rarely produced musicals. Through a process of residencies, workshops and staged readings, The Human Race not only contributes to the art form, but builds an audience for the new musical.

Tickets: All ticket information can be found at The Human Race Theatre Company’s website: www.humanracetheatre.org

 

Opening Next Week!

A Little Princess

Playhouse South

The Skinny: The classic children’s literature story of Sara Crewe, left by her father at a boarding school for young ladies. This is a musical version of the 1905 story.

The Dates: Opening August 10th and running through the 19th. All performances of this outdoor production begin at 7:30.

Tickets: Admission is free, but a donation of at least $5.00 is greatly appreciated. Please visit Playhouse South’s website for more information and directions to Northpark Amphitheatre in Springboro. www.playhousesouth.org

Ongoing!

Seussical! The Musical!

La Commedia Dinner Theatre

The Skinny: Seussical brings the books you and your kids have grown up with to life with bright and beautiful sets, cheerful songs and wonderful costumes.

The Dates: Seussical opened July 11th and continues it’s run through September 2nd.

Tickets: All information regarding tickets, group tickets and the current menu should be found at www.lacomedia.com

 

Free Shakespeare!

The Merchant of Venice

Free Shakespeare!

The Skinny: Chris Shea and his wandering thespians continue their merry stroll through the greater Dayton area.

Dates: August 2nd; Rosewood Arts Centre, Kettering. August 3rd, 4th and 5th; Newcom Park, Oregon District. August 7th; RESCHEDULED DATE for Tower Park Amphitheatre, Fort Thomas Kentucky (7:30 pm show). August 9th; Blommel Park, South Park, Dayton. August 10th, 11th and 12; Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark, Dayton. All performances begin at 7:00 pm (EXCEPT WHERE NOTED OTHERWISE). Audience members are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets.

Tickets: Free Shakespeare! is committed to bringing high quality, low budget classic theatre to the Dayton region, for free. But good will donations are happily and gratefully accepted. The proceeds are split equally among the cast.

For more information, visit Free Shakespeare’s Facebook site at www.facebook.com/spreadthewords

 

Looking Ahead!

As aforementioned, I would like to take a quick peek ahead to the first offerings of some local theatres this season, to remind us what we have to look forward to once this long, hot summer draws to a close. These entries are in no particular order,

The Dayton Theatre Guild:

 

Opus by Michael Hollinger.

August 24th – September 9th

A world-class male string quartet struggles with the loss of a member, the recasting of a woman to replace him and the day-to-day tensions of exacting, temperamental artists struggling to make perfect music onstage, as well as to make sense of their lives offstage.  This one-of-a-kind contemporary script is filled with quiet drama and surprising humor.

The Dayton Playhouse:

Side By Side by Sondheim

September 7th – 16th.

Side by Side by Sondheim is a musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway and film composer Stephen Sondheim.  It was nominated for 6 Tony awards in 1977.  The title is derived from the song “Side by Side by Side” from Company.

Beavercreek Community Theatre

Musical Chairs

September 7th – 16th

Synopsis information about Musical Chairs was not immediately available through the website.

The Human Race Theatre Company

Managing Maxine

September 6th – 23rd.

She’s bold, yet tender. She’s brash, but sincere. And at the age of 70, Maxine Levine may have just found real love for the first time in her life. When this lively widow finds a retired, reserved judge to her liking, they each discover that when it comes to romance, everything old is new again. But the memories of past loves and current heartbreaks of their children could derail any hope of happiness these late-in-life lovebirds may have.

This is just a taste of what a few theatres will be offering up this coming year. We’ve got some great shows in store for us in the 2012-2013 Theatre Season. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!

 

 

 

 

 

Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre: July 30-Aug. 5

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…BLINK AND YOU’LL MISS

ANNIE

SSCC Theatre

The Story: Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
The Dates: Aug. 3-5, 2012
Tickets and More Information: SSCC Theatre | BTC page |

THE LEGEND OF POCAHONTAS

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: This contemporary pop musical follows the classic story of Pocahontas and how she became who she was as an adult. The tale of Pocahontas is a well-known and frequently told one — but this remarkable story sticks closer to the historical reality of her life, rather than the embellished version created by some other filmmakers and storytellers. Pocahontas led a calm, peaceful life as a small girl, but when strangers arrive in her tribe’s native land and attempt to take over, her life course changes drastically. Follow the truthful account of the Algonquin Indians as they are invaded and taken over by Europeans.
The Dates: Aug. 2-5, 2012
Tickets and More Information: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC page |

…NEW THIS WEEK

ANNIE

Beechmont Players Inc.

The Story: Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
The Dates: Aug. 2-11, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Beechmont Players Inc. | BTC page |

…CONTINUING

Brent Vimtrup, Nicholas Rose as Dr. Watson & Jeremy Dubin as Sherlock Holmes.

THE HOUNDS OF THE BASKERVILLES

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Story: The legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are on the job to investigate the mysterious case of the “hound of hell” that stalks the moors. This fast-paced farcical adaptation of the classic novel is performed by only three actors tackling dozens of roles.  Physical humor and visual gags will make this production a laugh out loud treat this summer.  Will the courageous detective and his men survive the mystery of Baskerville Hall…and each other? The game is afoot in the regional premiere.
The Dates: July 20-Aug. 12, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | BTC page |

…CLOSING THIS WEEK

HOW DO YOU SPELL M-U-R-D-E-R?

Falcon Theatre

The Story: This 1920s caper rolls into action when two couples arrive on a paddlewheel steamboat, headed for Cincinnati. An unexpected guest also arrives on the levee, and one of the guests turns up dead! How is this group of strangers connected to the murder? During each performance, the audience gets to play detective, review all the clues, interrogate the suspects, and with five possible endings, decide who committed the crime. If you enjoy solving the mystery, we want you!
The Dates: July 13-Aug. 4, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Falcon Theatre | BTC page |

THE WEDDING SINGER

Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre

The Story: In THE WEDDING SINGER, it’s 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party, until his own fiancee leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own.
The Dates: July 27-Aug. 5, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre | BTC page |

…COMING SOON

HIDDEN WOUNDS

Montgomery-Hill Entertainment

The Dates: Aug. 11, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Arts Association | BTC page |

ROUNDING THIRD

The Showboat Majestic

The Dates: Aug. 8-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: The Showboat Majestic | BTC page |

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre

The Dates: Aug. 9-11, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre | BTC page |

XANADU

The Carnegie

The Dates: Aug. 11-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: The Carnegie | BTC page |

Great American Beer Tasting

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Having a beer at the ballpark is nothing special, but having over 75 brews to choose from must mean it’s time for Heidelberg’s 5th annual festival of beer at Fifth Third Field.  A $25 ticket will get you 20 samples of beeer, a souvenir sampling glass and a chance to wine great raffle prizes including a trip for two on the Bud Light Party Cruise, Dragons gear and Beer goodies for this Sat, Aug 4th’s event.   Gates open at 2pm and you’ll have 4 hours to meander your way around the 20 beer tables until 6pm.

You’ll even have a chance to head down to the field for a little cornhole or to play some carnival games.   Special tasting of will be available at table 21, while supplies last:

2:30pm: Widmer Marionberry Hibiscus Gose: Gose is a traditional cloudy German style wheat  beer that balances tart and slightly salty flavors with a soft malt background. Widmer Brother’s unique take uses a healthy dose of Oregon-grown Marionberries as well as dried Hibiscus flowers  for a tart, floral profile with clove and coriander flavors to round it out.

3:15pm: Goose Island Lolita: a pink rose colored Belgian style pale ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on raspberries in wine barrels. Aromas of fresh raspberries, bright jammy fruit flavors, and an effervescent body.
4:15pm: Brooklyn Beers, Brooklyn Local 1: Belgian-inspired strong golden ale. Behind the full golden color you’ll find an alluring aroma, a dynamic complex of flavors, Belgian flair, Brooklyn  fortitude and a dusting  of special yeast. To create this beer, an old technique of 100% bottle refermentation is used.
To Order Tickets:

  • Call the Dragons box office at (937) 228-2287 or purchase online
  • Purchase in the Dragons Den team store during Dragons game
  • OR visit and of the following local bars and restaurants: Amber Rose, Archer’s Tavern, Belmont Party Supply, Boston’s Bistro, Brixx, Cooper’s Deli, Dublin Pub, Miami Valley Wine,
    Frickers- Huber Heights

Tickets day-of the event are $35 at the gate. Designated driver tickets are also available at the door for $5,

Upcoming at The Neon: “The Invisible War”, “Eleven” and Special Announcements

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Hello Everyone,

We’re holding steady this week. If you still need to see TO ROME WITH LOVE or MOONRISE KINGDOM, this will more than likely be your last week to see these films at THE NEON. In addition, we will hold BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD. Though this film didn’t perform as well as we had hoped, audiences have really embraced it…and we hope positive word-of-mouth will help build attendance.

Check out the website for BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD.

Air Force Veteran Jachlin Williams will be hosting two screenings of the new, award-winning documentary THE INVISIBLE WAR at THE NEON. The first is this Sunday, August 5 and the second is on Thursday, August 16. “A groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of our country’s most shameful and best-kept secrets, THE INVISIBLE WAR reveals the epidemic of rape within the U.S. Military. Today, a female soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Tracing the powerfully emotional stories of several young veterans, the film reveals the systemic cover-up of the crimes they have suffered and follows their struggles to rebuild their lives and careers. These screenings are part of a campaign to tell survivors of sexual military trauma that they are not invisible.” These screenings are free. Tickets will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis – one ticket per person on the day of each screening.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECOqpv45tIo’]

The Greater Dayton Association of Black Journalists will host a community discussion about the Anthony Sowell serial murder case Saturday, August 18 at 11am at THE NEON. A discussion of the societal conditions that allowed the murders to go unnoticed will be discussed following a preview of the documentary ELEVEN. The film is about the Imperial Avenue killings in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood in 2009. Stanley Donaldson, a reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, will be on hand along with co-director Khalil Pedizsai. Donaldson wrote newspaper articles about the murders. He is also a producer for the documentary. Please help us spread the word about this free community discussion.

Very soon, I’ll be able to give you details about our benefit on October 14. Slowly but surely, we’re getting details in place so we can make a big announcement (here are a few wonderful details – Meadowlark, Coco’s Bistro & Roost have already confirmed to provide appetizers). This benefit will help us as we transition from 35mm to digital projection – a costly but necessary endeavor.

Did you see that FilmDayton revealed their line-up for their 4th Annual Festival? Check out their site to see the latest. This fest is set for August 24-26, and I can’t wait to see COMPLIANCE. Postcards with the complete line-up are also available at our box office.

And speaking of festivals, The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival is ready to announce this year’s line-up. HERE is is! It’s our biggest and best yet, and we’re now in the process of securing guest artists to attend the festival. The 7th Annual Fest is set for Sept. 28-30. Visit the site, watch the trailers and mark your calendars…it’s gonna be great! (Please contact me if you or your business might be interested in sponsoring this annual event.)

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

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Aug. 3 – Thu. Aug. 9:

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (PG-13) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

TO ROME WITH LOVE (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday: 2:50, 7:30
Sunday: 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 7:30

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday: 12:40, 5:20, 9:40
Saturday: 12:40, 5:20
Sunday: 12:40, 5:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 5:20, 9:40

FOREVER FLAVOR (NR) 60 Min
(this special event is a locally-produced rollerblading video …tickets $5 each…
no additional details were provided by the filmmakers)
Saturday: 10:00pm

THE INVISIBLE WAR (NR) 1 Hr 33 Min + Discussion
Sunday: 3:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
August 10 THE INTOUCHABLES
TBD YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
late Aug FAREWELL, MY QUEEN
TBD WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
Sept. 14 ROBOT AND FRANK
TBD THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
TBD 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK

Adam Parker Smith: An Artistic Conversation

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Adam Parker Smith

Adam Parker Smith is a Brooklyn based multidisciplinary artist who constructs kinetic, animated and static paintings, sculpture, video, assemblage, and collage to form visual paradoxes and parodies.  Smith received his BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz and his MFA from Tyler School of Art.  His work has been shown throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Blue Sky Project is a summer experience that empowers professional artists from around the world and local youth to collaborate and build community through the creation of ambitious works of contemporary art and performance.  Adam Parker Smith participated in Blue Sky Project in 2007.  At that time the program was stationed in McHenry County, Illinois before being relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 2009.   Smith is now paying his first professional visit to Dayton as one of six returning resident artist who have come back to the program for the summer of 2012.  I had the opportunity to sit down with Adam and discuss his work.

Philip Titlebaum:  How did you first find out about and get involved with Blue Sky Project?

Adam Parker Smith:  When I first moved to New York, I was looking for any excuse to get out of the city, so I found myself applying for as many residency programs as possible.  Luckily one of the programs that I applied to was Blue Sky.  I took an interview with Mequitta [Ahuja] and Peter [Benkendorf] and everything seemed to be a good fit so they asked me out for the summer and I had an incredible time.

"Bold As Love" 2007

PT:  Could you discuss the work you did with Blue Sky Project in 2007?

APS:  Collaborating seven high school students I created seventy heads  on wooden pikes constructed from felt and pins form a landscape of imagined creatures and American icons including Mike Tyson, Anna Nicole Smith, and John F. Kennedy.

PT:  Can you speak a little about your installation “This Side of Paradise (I Lost All My Money in the Great Depression and All I Got Was This Room)” and what led you to reimagine it?

“This Side of Paradise (I Lost All My Money in the Great Depression and All I Got Was This Room)” 2012

APS:  The original installation that I did was in a unique location up in the Bronx.  The show that I was involved in that the piece was constructed for was put on by the organization, No Longer Empty.  In an attempt to connect with the community and bring together different arts organizations from the Bronx, No Longer Empty had taken the Andrew Freedman Home and converted it into a large environment for collaborative and installation based art projects.  The Andrew Freedman Home has an interesting history.  It was opened in the late 30’s for a retirement home for formerly wealthy individuals who had lost all their money in the Great Depression.  Abandoned in the 70’s, large portions of the house laid vacant until the opening of the show.  My installation piece that I did at the Andrew Freedman Home related to the economical history of the community and past residents as well as the current socioeconomic status of the Bronx and also the nation as we struggle through another recession.   The installation took the form of a three-dimensional wall treatment for a former bedroom at the Andrew Freeman Home that underscored the fact that the “wealth” that manifested itself there was in fact an illusion, created for the comfort of its residents. The greatly enlarged pattern emulated a traditional wallpaper motif, and was articulated with an array of plastic flowers and fruit, varnished baked goods, elegantly wrapped hard candies, jelly beans, and costume jewelry. While the materials alluded to opulence, they were purchased inexpensively at a dollar store. There was a cheery hopefulness to the arrangement that suggested both optimism in the midst of loss, and the absurdity of keeping up a good facade.  Also important to the piece was the idea of the involvement and engagement of the surrounding community and the population that visited the site while my work was installed.  These elements made for an easy transition to the Blue Sky Project, which at its core holds collaboration as a crucial element.

“This Side of Paradise (I Lost All My Money in the Great Depression and All I Got Was This Room)” 2012

PT:  How has your experience with the first manifestation of this project informed your process this time around?

APS:  The initial installation was constructed primarily by myself, so upon completion I was eager to get a larger community involved in the project.  Blue Sky has such a great network here in the Dayton community that this is now possible.

PT:  What is your other work like?

APS:  My work is a mixture of animated and static painting, sculpture, video, assemblage, and collage.  I try and form visual paradoxes and parodies to make visual tableaus that are taken from my daily experiences and glorified. I try and draw moments from a range of political, personal, and fantastical scenarios to establish psychological sites for different elements to coagulate.  I gather my materials from vernacular culture, hardware stores, and museums. Most of the work starts with simple pranks and tongue in check humor and then erodes to display undercurrents of dissatisfaction and dysfunction.  There is humor in the work, but it is mostly related to a more academic definition of comedy with origins in the theatre of Ancient Greece where dramatic performances pit two societies against each other in an amusing conflict. The vantage point taken of this agon of comedy is a struggle between the powerless youth and societal conventions where the youth is left with little options other then to take dramatic unconventional action.

Adam's collaborators in the midst of the creative process

PT:  What inspires you as an artist?

APS:  Inspiration for me comes from many different sources, but for this installation, almost all of my inspiration comes from the young artists that I get to collaborate with.  Most of the piece for this installation will be constructed by the artists that I am working with.  Although the original framework is in place for the piece the creative energy will be fueled by the community and my collaborators.

Please join us this Friday, August 3 between 5 and 8 pm for the opening of Adam Parker Smith’s installation “This Side of Paradise (I Lost All My Money in the Great Depression and All I Got Was This Room)” at 8 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio.  This event is free and open to the public.  It is presented as a part of Downtown Dayton’s First Friday Art Hop.