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Archives for September 2012

CPAM Presents “Annie – The Musical” at the Baum Opera House

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Leapin’ Lizards!!!  Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg is proud to present Annie the Musical – one of the world’s best-loved musicals!  With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan ANNIE charms everyone’s hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, ANNIE escapes to the wondrous and magical world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, ANNIE finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Annie will be performed by a cast of multiple youth performers from grades 4-12 at the Baum Opera House located at 15 S. First Street in Miamisburg. The show opens on September 21 – click here for full show schedule.

 

CPAM Cast in "Annie - The Musical"

Tickets are on sale now for all six performances on the website at: http://www.cpamburg.com. General admission seats are $13 each. Reserved seats are $15 each. The box office will be open for day of performance ticket purchases as well.

Dayton Most Metro Ticket Give-away

We have three pairs of tickets to give away to see the Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg presentation of Annie – The Musical!  Simply this article, then fill out the form below and leave a comment telling us you want to see this show.  We’ll announce winners on Wednesday September 19th after 4pm.  GOOD LUCK!

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winners!

Kate Feldmann
Melissa Groveman
Heather Merz

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Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities Sep. 18-25

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Admiring the work of the You Are Here! team at Urban Nights

Welcome back to my column on getting involved in urban community improvement projects! I hope that you’ve recovered from another fabulous Urban Nights event last Friday. The Downtown Dayton Partnership coordinated the event, which required not only the work of dozens of their own volunteers, but also that of the hundreds providing art and entertainment, and even eighteen climbing experts who kept novices from falling off a 27-story building! I enjoyed guiding visitors on the RTA shuttles and got to see the public art installation You Are Here! which reminded us to be more involved in the place and times in which we live. So with that in mind, here are this week’s volunteer opportunities:

Get your neighborhood outside!

Just because it’s getting a little colder doesn’t mean you have to retreat inside! Its important for urban neighborhoods to have the face-to-face interaction that comes from walking, biking, and being outdoors in general.

  • Bike valet at Oktoberfest: As part of their efforts to encourage biking, Bike Miami Valley is providing a bicycle valet area at various local events. They need a crew of volunteers to staff the valet at the DAI Oktoberfest in Dayton’s Grafton Hill neighborhood this weekend, Sep. 22-23. Volunteers get free admission! E-mail Laura if you can help.
  • Help build a pocket park: Our updayton Streetvival team meets this Thursday to plan fundraising & work days for a new park at the corner of Xenia & McClure in the Twin Towers neighborhood. We especially invite handy people with construction and landscaping knowledge to join our team!  Sep. 20, 7pm at the Trolley Stop patio. Contact me for more info and stay tuned for more efforts to turn Twin Towers into the Street Art Capital of Ohio!

  • Volunteers are needed to staff PARK(ing) Day parks and lead creative activities.

    PARK it in the streets! PARK(ing) Day is a celebration of urban greenspace in which volunteers in cities around the world transform parking spaces into temporary parks. Lisa Helm has instigated local parklets for the last few years and needs volunteers to help with the Garden Station-sponsored space in front of Blind Bob’s, this Friday, Sep. 21. Assistance needed setting up the park at 7am, tearing down at 5pm, and programming/staffing it in between – e-mail Lisa if interested. There will also be City Hall and Library parks as well.

  • Dayton World Soccer Games: Support our immigrant communities through soccer (er, football) spectating at the first ever Dayton World Soccer Games. I’m sure you’ve seen the endless international press the City of Dayton has gotten for its Welcome Dayton initiative – here’s a fun way to take part. Sep. 21-22, Action Sports Center.
  • Dog park clean-up: Dayton Unleashed is organizing a clean-up of downtown Dayton’s new volunteer-run dog park at Deeds Point for the weekend of Sep. 29-30. Bring your dog, gloves and any brush removal tools you own; they’ll start at 9am and work until about 1pm. If you can do both days great, if not, pick a day and bring your best bud. Make new friends for the both of you! Questions? Contact Karen Stephens at 937.510.6900 or e-mail her. Follow their group  for more ways to get involved, discuss downtown dog issues, and get details on the upcoming Doggie Fashion Show.

    Help cyclists and others enjoy the Midwest Outdoor Experience. Photo: On the Run Photography

  • Midwest Outdoor Experience (formerly GearFest) has grown beyond just gear and exploded into a multi-day event, featuring camping, competitions, regional music acts, exciting demos, a Friday and Saturday night beer garden and more! So bike on down to Eastwood MetroPark at the city’s eastern edge, October 5-6. Volunteers can sign up and and find all the information they need, including info an upcoming training, here.

If you must stay inside…

  • Help Dayton school kids succeed! There will be an event this Thursday at Ruskin Neighborhood School Center to show how community members can help the K-8 students succeed in reading and more. Sep. 20, 5-6:30pm, 407 Ambrose Ct.
  • Cityfolk was launched in 1980 by Five Oaks volunteers in a neighborhood park to showcase cultural diversity. In three decades it’s grown far beyond that original series to include the festival, year-long concert series, and educational programming that we know today. Unfortunately a terrible weekend of festival weather threatens Cityfolk’s future and they need to replace the $100,000 loss to allow it to continue. Please donate at Cityfolk.org.
  • I-75 construction update: Learn how the final(!) stage of downtown interstate modernizations will impact you at one of six information sessions ODOT is holding this week. Download the flyer here. Bike Miami Valley is encouraging cyclists to attend the Wednesday evening session to discuss impacts on cyclists.
  • Engage in poverty reduction: Learn about local efforts to fight poverty at the next of the City of Dayton’s 2012 Community Engagement Workshops. More information here and to RSVP, contact Verletta Jacksonor 937-333-3670.

    The brawn behind Demo Day at Fifth Street Brewpub.

Have a great week and remember to share your opportunities and report your successes back here!

Cityfolk World Music Series Presents Fatoumata Diawara at UD

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Photo Credit: Phil Sharp

Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara, a resident of France since the late 1990s, has gained considerable momentum in world music circles over the past two years. She released her debut recording, an EP, Kanou, in Europe in May 2011, and followed that in September with Fatou, which won the prestigious 2012 Songlines Music Award for Newcomer of the Year.

Fatou was greeted with universal acclaim; the Telegraph says “this stylish debut doesn’t put a foot wrong,” the Times of London says “the air of wistful, understated beauty draws you in, and Mojo calls her a “spell-weaving new voice.” The album, which held the top spot on European world music charts for six months, was released in the U.S. last month by Nonesuch.

Born in 1982 in the Ivory Coast to Malian parents, Diawara joined her father’s dance troupe as a child and soon achieved local fame for her prowess in the didadi, an energetic dance from the Wassoulou region in southwestern Mali. She left her family at age 12 to move to Bamako to live with an aunt, an actress. This led to an acting career for the young girl; as an actress, Diawara has toured the world with the French theater company Royale de Luxe and appeared in such films as Taafe Fangan, La Genèse and Sia: The Dream of the Python.

During her travels with Royale de Luxe, Diawara began singing for her own enjoyment. She was overheard by the company’s director, who encouraged Diawara to begin singing in the ensemble’s shows. Encouraged by the audience reaction, she started singing in Paris clubs when she wasn’t touring. She also started playing guitar and writing songs.  Diawara met the famous Malian musician Cheikh Tidiane Seck at one of these Paris shows, and he hired the young singer to provide backing vocals on albums he was producing back in Mali by Dee Dee Bridgewater (the Grammy-winning Red Earth: A Malian Journey) and Oumou Sangare.

In addition to her work with Sangare and Bridgewater, Diawara has recorded with Damon Albarn, Herbie Hancock, AfroCubism, Bobby Womack and the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. She has toured with her own band, with Sangare and Bridgewater and with Damon Albarn in both his Africa Express project and the band Rocket Juice and the Moon with Tony Allen and Flea.

Photo Credit: Ellen Doherty

Diawara’s music blends funk, rock and world music touches with Wassoulou traditions, and like many Wassoulou women artists, Diawara writes and sings songs that forcefully advocate for women’s rights, an issue of fundamental importance for the young singer. And for an actress trained in a collaborative, scripted medium, writing and singing her own songs—and playing the guitar, too—represents the ultimate freedom. “To me it was a wonderful and daring thing,” Diawara says, of her decision to follow her musical instincts, “a Malian girl with an acoustic guitar. Why should the guitar be only for men?”

Fatoumata Diawara will be begin her U.S. tour at the University of Dayton on Thursday, September 20. The concert, sponsored by Cityfolk and the University of Dayton Arts Series, will take place at the Kennedy Union Boll Theatre at 8 pm. Tickets are $20;  $18 for seniors, military, UD faculty and staff; and $10 for students. For tickets, visit Cityfolk.org or call 937-496-3863.

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(thanks to UD senior Lauren Glass for input on this article)

 

Dayton Talent in Columbus: Short North Stage’s “Cabaret”

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The season opener at Short North Stage will see the main stage of the Garden Theater in Columbus transformed into the infamous 1930s Kit Kat Klub in Berlin, and will feature one of the great Broadway scores by John Kander and Fred Ebb as Short North Stage presents the erotic updated 1998 revival version of Cabaret, which starred Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson and ran for six years on Broadway.

This racier and more decadent version of the well-known musical presents an accurate portrayal of pre-WWII Berlin which was known as a “sin city”.  The Twenties saw a dramatic loosening of social inhibitions, and attitudes toward diverse sexual behavior became much more tolerated.  Hundreds of nightclubs flourished, catering to a wide variety of tastes. Hyperinflation led people to spend on intoxicating pleasures of the moment rather than save money that would be worth much less in week, if not a day.

In an interesting local Columbus connection to the Berlin scene, Actress Louise Brooks, whose portrait was etched onto a back wall of the Garden Theater stage in 1924, was one of the many foreigners who made their way to Berlin, where she became an international star after she appeared in the 1929 movie Pandora’s Box. In that film she epitomized a Berlin siren—a seductress named Lulu, whose uninhibited sexuality brought ruin to her and others she touched.

JJ Parkey as The Emcee (photo credit: Gary White)

The Joel Gray interpretation of the Emcee was shattered by Alan Cumming’s eroticized version in the 1998 Broadway revival.    Although the 1972 film version of the musical, starring Liza Minelli, made Sally Bowles the central character, the Emcee is the pivotal force in the stage production.

Dayton native JJ Parkey plays the EMCEE in this production of Cabaret.  He earned his degree in musical theater at Wright State University and currently resides in New York.  JJ says he hopes to “honor both of the iconic performances of Joel Grey and Alan Cumming while incorporating my own take on the character.   The Emcee is not a stagnant character that needs to be presented in one way, but rather an ever-changing creature that adapts to the story with each new production and each new director.”

Cate Owens as Rosie, Kaitlin Descutner as Sally Bowles, and Adrianne K as Texas (photo credit: Gary White)

Directing the production is New York based Dayton native, Scott Hunt.  He notes, “The challenge inherent in presenting Cabaret is to immerse the audience in the world of the Kit Kat Klub; to make them feel as if they are participants in the action of the play. Luckily, The Garden Theatre does much of the work for us.  How blessed to present a piece about the most important moment of the 20th Century in a building with so much history of its own.”  One way the company is immersing the audience in the action is by offering a chance to be part of the production “up close and personal” with VIP Ticket holders sitting at tables on the stage of The Garden Theater.

As an actor, Scott Hunt has appeared on Broadway and in the National Touring Productions of Les Miserables  (Marius), and Rent (Mark Cohen), as well as numerous regional theaters.  As a director, Scott recently staged Rent for Wright State University in Dayton. Like JJ, he is a Dayton native who currently resides in New York City. Scott is a resident artist with The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton.

Rounding out the Dayton representation in Short North Stage’s Cabaret is Chris Shea.  Chris graduated from Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and formed Free Shakespeare! – a professional, not-for-profit theatre company in Dayton devoted to presenting complimentary performances of the works of William Shakespeare.

Tickets

Tickets are $30 or $40 for VIP Tickets.  VIP Tickets are sold out for opening night, September 21st.   All performances on the Main Stage at The Garden Theater, located at 1187 N High Street, Columbus, Ohio.   Visit www.shortnorthstage.org for tickets and information, or call 614-725-4042.  A preview performance will be held at 8:00 pm on Thursday September 20, and then runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm through October 5.

Kiss and Motley Crue Bring ‘The Tour’ To Cincinnati

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Friday August 31 two bands known for their legendary histories of indulgence and decadence brought what some have called this years Metal Hall of Fame tour to Riverbend for a night of blasting noise, theater, spectacle, bombast, showmanship and just plain kicking the audience’s ass. Say what you want about Motley Crue, The Sunset Strips favorite sons gave birth to the scene back in the day and besides after all the partying, car crashes, OD’s, arrests, scandals, a few educational films, personal issues and drama that has followed them since the early 80’s it’s a freaking miracle their still alive and in decent health. But after decades of access they’re proving they can still put on a breath taking show and bring it like no other. Some have questioned Vince Neil’s voice but tonight he was in fine form with a flawless high pitched, cat scratch howl. Mick Mars can still play like a madman soldiering on despite his Ankylosing Spondylitis, an uncomfortable and painful inflammatory condition that mainly affects the joints of the spine. Tonight proved that only Kiss can follow Motley Crue live in 2012.

Many things have been said about Kiss but from shear staying power they’ve earned their place in music history and the two original members continue to defy father time delivering a rock show for the ages.With due respect to Ace and Peter Kiss’s 2012 show still carries the impact, decibel levels and visual wallop with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer on stage. People talk about Gene Simmons a lot. Musician, rock-star, actor, author, publisher, business man, father (of presumably more than 2), reality show star, and in his early 60’s a happy newlywed. ‘The Tour’ is the first time since 1982 when Motley were just young pups that both bands have shared the same stage together.

Making their first trip to the states from Cambridge England openers The Treatment came out with pomp and circumstance determined to get the crowd to c’mon and give it all they had. Vocalist Matt Jones swings himself around on stage like he’s already been on Tommy’s coaster ride once or twice. He delivers a bluesy high pitched wail of what it would sound like if Tesla’s Jeff Keith sang for The Black Crowes/Buck Cherry or Velvet Revolver. Playing hard edged tunes The Doctor, the slower future arena‘lighter’ ballad Nothing To Lose But Our Minds, Departed (with a bang bang bang) and Shake The Mountain.

Motley Crue’s curtain drop reveals a stage empty of band members but full of machinery, industrial ambiance, a big screen with a large cold steel wheel with drum kit, 4 large hydro fans, and a long cane like mic for Nikki. The show itself has enough lights, fire and pyro to make Rammstein envious. The clock starts ticking away slowly as a very apropos Ministry song plays that if you have any knowledge of their history you’ll appreciate the joke. The tick-tock slowly gains weight and deepens into a grandfather pendulum foreshadowing LA’s finest 80’s export. Two large red cloaked figures with bull horns appear on stage ushering the ‘thru the crowd’ arrival of the evenings Co-Headliners. Marching in amongst the people carrying medieval Motley Flags, lead by William Wallace… err, another red cloaked figure followed by a scantily clad hot chick the Motley Parade start up the war path. A unique rock-star entrance brushing past mingling with everyday common folk but it’s the beginning of the nights show of friendly competition/delivery as the head-liners are the forefathers of good theater.

They launch into the autobiographical Saints of Los Angeles as trapezist’s twirl on long satin sheets and puppets hammer on the drum rails. Second song in we take a trip to The Wild Side in multi colored light and some hot gyrating dancers Vince plays with.We go next door to the dark side and Shout At The Devil in a sea of floating blood clot’s, hellfire and spinning pentagrams. Out comes a young lady in a large Victorian dress, after asking if she’s single Vince asks the obvious question taking a peak as two more hot chicks emerge (it was a large outfit) one gives him a guitar while the other in S&M gear leads the properly dressed lady away. Yep, every night, Same Old Situation. You’ve seen the video. If you’ve followed them at all you know for 31 years it’s been all about the sex; so leave it to the Crue to put on a live Sex show with side stage spray gun shooters to relieve the crowd, ending in an on stage sex scene literally spelled out, and if you don’t like it Don’t Go Away Mad Just Go Away. The cascading white lights bounce off the silver tiled piano that magically appeared. After an emotional band fist bump, Tommy intro’s the monster laser light lit ballad Home Sweet Home.

Next up your average Tommy Lee drum solo with a 360 degree mini roller coaster chair, enough noise and music samples to give the hippest DJ a brain aneurysm. Plenty of split second fire visuals and…. oh yeah, Tommy Lee beating the crap out of his skins while an ego sized version of his hand pulls him up the hill. Luckiest fan of the night Roger got to ‘hookup’ and play sidekick behind Tommy on the roller coaster of love for a minute. Tommy asked if he came with his girlfriend, wife or a hooker. Next the song and video that started it all Live Wire. Followed by the Primal Scream of everyone in the pavilion ending with a cannon ball boom. It was finally time to Feelgood and call every junkie’s favorite unlicensed medical physician with straight jacket dancers dangling from the ceiling. Then the motorcycle engines roared and they played the national anthem for working girls across the country with Mick Mars Kickstarting a solo into  Niki’s tale of near death experience. The Motley Crue of members and performers bowed as the madness ended (for about 30minutes anyway). Next up, a little band from New York you might’ve heard of formally called Wicked Lester.

….Anticipation builds. Then… the lights go out, the sky darken’s as the heavens open and the Gods and Deities of all things rock n roll and good taste look down upon the Southern Ohio congregation of ‘The Army’  smile, nod and wave a blessing over tonight’s show and thus another night of K(h)isstory begins.

We get a little peek at the nights horror movie hero’s walk the walk backstage. The large silver emblazed logo lights up on the big black curtain as the roar begins. CIN-CINN-ATI!!!!……. You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world….. KISS!!! Curtain falls as the famous hydrolic platform descends with rocks living breathing comic book characters standing triumphant ready to play and annihilate with all the lights, flames and bombast you’d expect from a Kiss opening; and for the first five minutes Cincinnati becomes Detroit Rock City. For those who still had a voice left afterwards Paul told us to Shout It Out Loud. The crowd was definitely having a party but just to be sure he did a sound-check wanting to hear all the wild animals out there, because no other band gives it to you or Loves It Loud right between the eyes. Next, sirens go off, a raging inferno erupts and the whole place goes up in flames. It was already hot as hell but Kiss brought out the heat, frenzy and adrenaline of the Firehouse complete with Gene grabbing his sword spewing holy fireballs.  They intro a brand new one from the upcoming Monster album, and I’m sure it’ll be a monster album called Hell or Hallelujah. Accompanied by an on screen sinful seductive fire angel and the red flame licked gates of the netherworld. Lights go out.

Then…..a low, deep hellish crunching, clanking bass-line comes out of the darkness like the hammering and riveting of steel girders taking us on an uneven, jerky, curving roller coaster ride of twisting steel and rusting iron. ‘A moment or two’ of impending silence before the ominous Demon appears standing front stage center as the fog slowly creeps towards him surveying the dripping masses, listening to their praise. He leans forward peering at the closest of his disciples as green light illuminates his armor looking like the Emerald City’s favorite dark knight, his timeless black n white image on the screen resembles an old graveyard spirit. A group of dead pirates wander the stage behind looking for a lost gold cross….., not really, but I’m sure they could find a way to pull it off if they wanted to. The Rock God’s face quivers and shakes going into conniption’s of earned evil glee as a haunting church bell gongs releasing a river of red pouring from his sinister gape the performance turning his howling face into a possessed savaged soul. After the world famous ritual was done he stood silent and still, hands folded, showing off his stained ghostly visage to our enraptured eyes, but more importantly our camera’s and cell phones delight. He sneered, smiled, the worlds most infamous tongue making a licking appearance. He posed ascending to the Riverbend’s highest plateau. The God of Thunder, Rock n Roll and lord of the wastelands played to his minions as they worshiped. Tommy Thayer played the solo as the blood spewer returned to his earth bound position.

They pull out the Love Gun and The Starchild flies solo across the human sea  visiting the crowd on the other side for a few minutes returning to play a little bit of The Who as The crimson Demon points and sneers. It’s a well known fact that the Black Diamond is one of the most sacred jewels in all of metal and they want to keep it that way but they only want to hear from the leaders not the followers so don’t worry about who’s around you just keep your eyes on Mr. Stanley,  the Singer on the rising drums and the cat’s eyes.

The destructive merciless War Machine was unleashed soaring over legions of robotic armies with fire breathing menace and vengeance. If the crowd wasn’t Shocked yet, they were now with Thayer stretching the feeling into a searing solo from the stage to the rafters with Singer shooting a flare gun from his kit causing some ‘stage damage.’ Next Paul asks the number one fans to Lick It Up. Then checked on our condition before calling The Doctor.

Saving the best for last they encouraged the crowd to take a little time away from the negativity of the world with a white storm of Konfetti and Rock N Roll All Night. Then the tired, sweaty, partially-totally spent and dehydrated fans muddled together, some trying to grab the wet paper particles, some being ‘helped’ out awaiting their air-conditioned vehicles. Seeing both bands for the first time I can see by reputation alone why they’ve lasted so long but to see the respective shows they put on, especially with Motley being the ‘junior’ act it’s easy to see why they keep doing it and why the fans keep coming back for more every time. The bottom line is if you haven’t seen Motley Crue or Kiss yet you just F’n need to!

Toronto Film Fest – Day #9

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Hello Everyone,

I saw 2 final films today…which took my final count to 29 full screenings (there were 3 partial screenings, too).

First off, I saw a lovely new adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Mike Newell (director of ENCHANTED APRIL, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, and a whole lot more).  This adaptation, though clearly condensed in order to be told in 2 hours, is an old-school, literal adaptation with lovely photography, great costumes and a wonderful score.  The cast is wonderful – Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch, Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham and Jeremy Irvine as “older” Pip (he was the star of WAR HORSE).   Interestingly, Young Pip is played by Jeremy Irvine’s younger brother Toby, and he’ll have quite a career should he decide to continue acting.  Sally Hawkins (who is always delightful to see) plays Mrs. Joe.  This adaptation will be well received by NEON regulars…though it has been picked up by a brand new distributor – so we hope we can establish a good relationship with them.

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For my last film of the festival, I saw Lee Daniels’  (director of PRECIOUS) latest film – THE PAPERBOY.  Though Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron give “nice” performances, the material is all over the map.  The film is seriously fractured with tone and themes shifting from scene to scene.  Some of the cutting seems strange and forced – leading me to believe that coverage wasn’t good or performances weren’t always up to par.  Eric Kohn of IndieWire wrote, “Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY is a rare case of serious commitment to outright silliness…It’s possible to enjoy aspects of THE PAPERBOY if you assume a certain self-awareness behind the campier bits, but even then, the movie drowns in an overwhelming barrage of excess.”  Though Efron was present at the screening, Kidman was not.  Is she distancing herself from the picture?  We’ll never know.

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In the coming days, I’ll write one last Toronto wrap-up…and I’ll include some personal photographs from the trip.  So check back again on Tuesday or Wednesday – once I’ve had a bit of time to catch up on sleep, wash my clothes, get back to work and process all 29 films I screened.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

No experience? No problem! Get on TV

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Casting – not for people, but for PLACES! A Texas production company with local ties may come to the Dayton region to shoot two great shows for HGTV. Now they need YOU!

Do you live in a converted home – something that use to be a bank, bus, old tree or submarine? They want to take a light-hearted look at unique houses and you might have the right fit!

Is your house pretty normal, but your backyard pool is out of this world? You might have a shot, too! No kidney-shaped stand-bys for this show – they are looking for unique, exotic and special pools.

Check out the two calls below and if you have a great converted house or a “cool pool” – you might be the right fit for the show. Share your gem of a house/pool and bring the production to our region!

More information on what exactly they’re looking for and details on how to submit available at the FilmDayton site.

Toronto Film Fest – Day #8

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Hello Everyone,

I only saw two film in their entirety today…I started a third, but I due to not connecting with the characters, I decided that a nap was in my best interest.

First off, I saw LOVE, MARILYN -a documentary about Marilyn Monroe – based on personal journals and personal letters that were recently discovered in storage (in addition to writings and interviews from friends and colleagues).  Big stars – like Glenn Close, Ellen Burstyn, Hope Davis, Viola Davis, Ben Foster and Lindsay Lohan – read the letters.  The movie reveals a tormented, insightful star who seemed to know exactly what was happening around her.  That said, the performances of the readings were distracting.  Instead of voice-over, the actors perform the pieces via green screen – and their images are transposed over backdrops, archival footage, etc.  I found it to be rather annoying.  However, the archival material and interviews seemed more organic and worth the ride.

PASSION, the latest film from Brian De Palma, is a laughable thriller based on the French film LOVE CRIME.  The movie stars Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace, and it starts out very confusing.  The two lead actresses look to be the same age – though one is the corporate boss and the other is an assistant.  The chemistry between these two is rather flat, and the tone changes to camp rather quickly.  The music cues and other cheap devices used to confuse the audience are abysmal.  The movie is about how Rapace’s character plots revenge on her boss after she stole one of her ideas in order to advance with the company.  In a word, this film is bad.

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In the evening, I went to see Madonna’s latest show at the Air Canada Center.  It was a complete blast – and quite a brilliant display of cutting-edge stage craft and lighting.

2 more films tomorrow…and I’m looking forward to both!

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

Coming up in Dayton Theatre: September 14th – 30th

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Before I get started, I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for their continued support and readership of On Stage Dayton and Dayton Most Metro. Please be sure to link and share any content you like. Additionally, please make sure that you’re suggesting to your friends that they “like” both Dayton Most Metro and On Stage Dayton so that they, too, can get updates and information. Alright, earnest plea for free promotion out of the way! On to the business at hand!

Closing This Weekend

Musical Chairs

Beavercreek Community Theatre

The Skinny: BCT’s season opener is an ensemble piece about an audience watching the most reason offering by a struggling playwright who is, lets just say, not having the best night.

The Dates: Musical Chairs closes this weekend, on Sunday the 16th

Tickets: Tickets are available online at www.bctheatre.org

Opus

Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: DTG’s season opener about a world-class male string quartet, and their controversial decision to bring on a female member, closes this weekend.

DTG Podcast of Opus

The Dates:Opus has its last 3 performances this weekend. Bear in mind, Guild 2nd and 3rd Saturdays are always at 5:00 pm. Sunday matinees are 3:00 pm.

Tickets: Ticket reservation and purchases can be made online at www.daytontheatreguild.org

Noises Off

Brookville Community Theatre

The Skinny: This delightful “backstage” farce is a perennial favorite among actors and audience members alike. It takes place during the stressful rehearsal and disastrous road-tour of a production of the fictional comedy “Nothing On.”

The Dates:  Noises Off concludes its run this weekend, on September 16th.

Tickets: Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling the Brookville Flower Shop at 937.833.3531

 

 

 

 

Side By Side By Sondheim

 

 

 

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: This 1977 Tony Award-winning musical is a revue of songs written by the patron saint of American Musical Theatre, Stephen Sondheim.

The Dates: Side By Side closes Sunday September 16th.

Tickets: Tickets are available online at www.daytonplayhouse.com

Opening This Weekend!

Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Town Hall Theatre

The Skinny: After she strikes a terrible bargain with the evil sea-witch, Ursula, Ariel must convince the handsome Prince Eric that she is the girl with the enchanting voice who rescued him.

The Dates: The Little Mermaid opens September 14th and 2 weekends, to close September 30th.

Tickets: Tickets are available online,  here.

Continuing!

 

 

Managing Maxine

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: The Human Race opens its season with this new comedy about silver-aged love and late-life sexiness.

The Dates: Managing Maxine  runs through September 23rd.

Tickets: All information can be found at the Human Race website, www.humanracetheatre.org

 

 

Coming Soon!

The Taming of the Shrew

Sinclair Community College

The Skinny:  This classic is the tale of a merchant’s two daughters. The younger, prettier, Bianca, cannot be married before her strong-willed sister, Katherina. Trickery ensues as a young adventurer from Verona decides to woo and win Katherina bringing new meaning to love, honor and obey.

The Dates:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 28th – 30th are at the typical 8 pm, 8 pm and 2 pm times. Then there is a performance Wednesday, October 3rd at 10:00 am. This slot is typically for school audiences but open to the public as well. There is also a performance on  Thursday, October 4th at 7:00 pm. Friday and Saturday, October 5th and 6th are both at 8 pm.

Tickets: Sinclair’s box office can be reached online here: Sinclair Box Office.

The Hobbit

Zoot Theate Company

The Skinny: Dayton’s only puppet theatre company returns, this time with their take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved (or should we say “precious”?)  “The Hobbit.” All performances will be at the NCR auditorium at the Dayton Art Institute.

Dates: The halflings, wizards and dwarfs will premier on September 28th and run weekends through October 4th.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Art Institute website: here.

 Auditions

Scrooge

The Dayton Playhouse

Dayton Playhouse will hold auditions for the musical Scrooge at 7:00 PM, September 24 and 25 in the lobby at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414.

Please prepare 32 bars of a standard musical theater piece, or a verse of your favorite Christmas Carol; an accompanist will be provided.

Be prepared to do cold readings and to provide information about dance experience. There will be no general dance audition. In addition to the many roles available, the director is looking for a male tap dancer/singer to play Tom Jenkins.

Performances will be November 30 – December 16.

For additional information contact director Craig Smith at [email protected].

 

 

Managing Maxine Review – Human Race Theatre Company – Falling in Love Again

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Jana Robbins and Steve Vinovich in "Managing Maxine" (Photo by Scott J. Kimmins)

Janece Shaffer has created one of the most fascinating females to grace a new play.

In Shaffer’s cute, funny, touching and refreshingly adult comedy “Managing Maxine,” receiving a wonderful Midwest premiere deftly directed by Marya Spring Cordes and attractively designed by Tamara L. Honesty for the Human Race Theatre Company, writer/professor Maxine Levine, newly 70, desires to love again. However, her mission is rather complicated, which is typical of romance whether teenage or septuagenarian. Since Maxine hasn’t dated since the Kennedy Administration and suffers from a Blanche DuBois aversion to natural light, her courage and self-esteem has understandably depleted. But despite the idiosyncrasies within her brash, loveable, stern and endearing temperament, she meets her white knight in the form of the exciting yet practical retired judge Arthur Rinzler. Maxine and Arthur’s relationship naturally blossoms with the potential for marriage, but questions and expectations regarding their respective children/families emerge to chip away at their bond. More importantly, Arthur is reticent to evolve and loosen the feelings he still has for his late wife, a concern deeply testing the couple.

Shaffer, boldly showcasing geriatric bedroom naughtiness with blush-worthy verve (“I think I need to take a breath mint to my upper thigh”), relies heavily on asides, which has a tendency to diminish narrative appeal as scenes progress. Still, her three-dimensional Maxine is superbly realized by New York-based actress and Tony nominated producer Jana Robbins (“Ragtime”). Robbins, who possesses a Linda Lavin quality and left an indelible impression as the tipsy titular character of the Human Race’s 2011 production of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” has been associated with “Maxine” since the play’s 2009 world premiere at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. From the inviting first scene, which finds Maxine nervously giddy about her first date with Arthur, it’s apparent how tailor-made the role is for her and how exceptionally she executes the emotional highs and lows, particularly becoming heartbreaking late in Act 2 when Maxine strips down in an honest moment of traumatizing self-examination. She’s also a first-rate comedienne who understands the importance of keeping Maxine’s humor level-headed instead of teetering into the cartoonish, over-the-top realm.

Steve Vinovich, whose extensive stage and screen credits includes Jerry Herman’s ill-fated but tunefully rich 1979 musical “The Grand Tour” and the films “The Santa Clause” and “Awakenings,” is simply terrific as Arthur. Genially seductive and totally charming, Vinovich keeps his innate chemistry with Robbins at fever pitch. He also establishes a warmly sincere and protective rapport with Michelle Zimmerman, who makes a fine return to the Human Race as Arthur’s disapproving, icy daughter Ivy.

Additionally, Debra Whitfield and Tim Lile are excellent as Maxine’s fussy daughter Emmie and discontented son-in-law Larry trying to rekindle their loveless marriage, a relatable subplot that evolves with potency and never feels inconsequential. “Try to remember what it was like in the beginning” is not only sound advice intended for Emmie and Larry but for anyone who has ever said “I do.” Kay Bosse and Scott Stoney respectively provide great comic relief and brief yet striking moments of depth as Maxine’s amiable neighbor Joanne and Arthur’s earthy buddy Louis.

The Human Race has broadened its support of new plays this season and certainly found a gem in “Maxine,” which warmly suggests it’s never too late to love and be loved. By and large, this crowd-pleasing play seems bound for Broadway and could be another Tony nominated vehicle for Robbins.

“Managing Maxine” continues through Sept. 23 at the Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton (click here for full schedule). Act One: 60 minutes; Act Two: 55 minutes. Tickets are $19.50-$40. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit http://humanracetheatre.org

Side by Side by Sondheim Review – Dayton Playhouse – Good Times and Bum Times

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Shawn Hooks (l) and David Moyer rehearsing "Side by Side by Sondheim" (Contributed photo)

Two months ago at the Smith Center in Las Vegas I attended an incredibly informative forum featuring acclaimed lyricist/composer Stephen Sondheim, who boldly awakened the complex possibilities of adult musical theater storytelling throughout the 1970s.

Questioned by moderator Michael Kerker of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), a very humble, surprisingly candid Sondheim reflected on his groundbreaking legacy with a wide range of anecdotes, particularly shedding light on supervising the original cast recording of “West Side Story” in Leonard Bernstein’s absence, coping with Jule Styne’s peculiar approach to rewrites during their “Gyspy” collaboration, and enduring a rocky relationship with Richard Rodgers during their creation of 1965’s “Do I Hear a Waltz?,” which he admittedly agreed to do entirely out of obligation to his mentor Oscar Hammerstein II. In fact, Sondheim submitted humorous yet derisive lyrics for the bouncy Act 2 duet “We’re Gonna Be All Right” that were scrapped purely based on the disapproval of Rodgers’ wife. According to Sondheim, his lyrics “hit too close to home.”

Thankfully, you can hear “We’re Gonna Be All Right” as originally intended in the musical revue “Side by Side by Sondheim,” a special presentation opening the Dayton Playhouse’s 2012-13 season. Created in London in 1976 and transferring to Broadway a year later receiving five Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, “Side by Side” consists of nearly 30 songs and encompasses nearly 20 years of Sondheim’s repertoire from his early, aforementioned collaborations (writing only lyrics) to his definitive works such as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music” and “Pacific Overtures.” “Anyone Can Whistle,” “Evening Primrose” and “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution,” three little known projects, are also included.

Director Brian Sharp, establishing a smooth fluidity, seamlessly expands, with assistance from musical director Ron Kindell, the original concept of three singers to six. Laura Bloomingdale, Carol Chatfield, Kathy Clark, Bonnie Dobbs, Shawn Hooks and David Moyer blend beautifully while embracing Sondheim’s tricky lyrical and rhythmic challenges with just a few stumbles along the way. The lyrically sublime Bloomingdale (supplying an absolutely lovely “I Remember” and a delectable “Ah, Paris”) and Clark (a back-to-back knockout with “Anyone Can Whistle” and “Send in the Clowns” in addition to “The Boy From”) are standouts, but Moyer’s heartfelt “Marry Me A Little,” Hooks’ personable “Could I Leave You?,” Chatfield’s heartbreaking “Losing My Mind,” and Dobbs’ operatic flourishes within the saucy “I Never Do Anything Twice” are certainly noteworthy.

However, in a startling move, Ned Sherrin’s original continuity/narration has been altered with references to Sondheim’s later works (such as “Into the Woods”) which have nothing to do with the revue’s framework. Saul Caplan is an enjoyably easygoing narrator, but his comments are oddly disjointing. Moreover, a bizarrely reprehensible moment arrives at the climax of Act 2. Dobbs delivers “I’m Still Here,” a powerful “Follies” anthem of survival pinpointing Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression among America’s social landscape, with new, contemporary lyrics referencing Botox, O.J. Simpson, George Bush and Barack Obama. Why the Playhouse would cheapen one of Sondheim’s most respected, beloved songs is a total mystery. It is simply one of the worst, most blatantly pointless artistic decisions the Playhouse has ever made.

Even so, considering the strengths of the vocalists and the fantastic piano accompaniment of Bryon Dobbs and Nancy Perrin, “Side by Side” remains a clear testament to Sondheim’s distinctive, alluring and timeless career.

“Side by Side by Sondheim” continues through Sept. 16 at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 70 minutes; Act Two: 55 minutes. Tickets are $15-$17. For tickets or more information, call (937) 424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.com.

 

 

Second Annual Art Off at K12 Gallery/TEJAS

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This Friday’s downtown Urban Nights celebration marks the exciting first round of the second annual Art Off at K12 Gallery/TEJAS in The Cannery. Stop by and check out the sights and sounds as dozens of artists age 16 and up go head-to-head in a live competition set on three stages, complete with heart-pumping music and a whole host of spectacles created by the artists themselves. The Art Off, a major fundraiser for K12/TEJAS, kicks off its opening night this Friday, September 14th with four rounds of live painting beginning at 6 p.m. The artists will have 50 minutes per round to create a piece of 2D art reflecting the theme Transformation. Jurors will then judge each round’s art and select winners who will advance. Competitors will be fighting for a spot in Round Two of the Art Off, which will be held Friday, October 5, and ultimately hope to be selected to compete in the finals to be held at the November 9th fundraiser finale where they will compete against reigning champion Donivan Hahn, a printmaker and local artist who currently teaches art at the Summit Academy in Cincinnati. In addition to bragging rights, the 2012 Art Off champion and runners up will receive coveted “knot awards,” crafted especially for the Art Off by Dayton’s own famed metal sculptor, Hamilton Dixon.

Last year’s inaugural Art Off kicked off with nearly 200 participants, and K12’s Rebecca Sargent was excited to say, “This year we went above and beyond!” since the event was such a hit in 2011. They plan to have three stages setup for the artists- one outside and two inside TEJAS- along with a DJ, food, beer and wine, theatrical lighting and some surprise “spectacles” provided by the artists themselves. Judging criteria this year will be based on not only the artist’s finished product and interpretation of theme, but the overall spectacle created by each artist as well.

"Knot Award" by Hamilton Dixon

The Art Off event is free to attend although donations can be made to K12/TEJAS. The public is encouraged to not only attend but participate in this fabulous event, as no artistic ability is required to compete. The entry fee of $5 covers the costs of materials, which are provided by K12, and competitors can opt to join in the fun as late as the night of the event itself, as long as space permits. Round One begins this Friday at 6 p.m. with three more rounds following at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Bring friends and family, art lovers and newbies alike to enjoy this entertaining evening of artistic expression and friendly competition.

To purchase tickets or learn more about the Art Off, contact Rebecca Sargent and Kelly Sexton at 461-5149 or visit the website at www.k12gallery.com. The 2012 Art Off is generously sponsored by: DP&L, Ron and Janet Shuff, Lexis Nexis, and the University of Dayton.

Urban Nights, Downtown’s Biggest Street Party, Returns This Friday

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Musicians perform on stage in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. The area will have different performers on several stages from 5 to 10 p.m.

Fall Urban Nights will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 14, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. An estimated 30,000 people attend Urban Nights, which is held in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village, and there are more than 100 activities planned during the event — including live music on outdoor stages, art exhibit openings, tours of downtown housing, discounts at restaurants and retail shops, and much more. A full list of events is available online. Highlights include:

• Dancing in the Street: First Street will be closed between Ludlow and Main streets to make way for performances by DCDC, the South Dayton Dance Theater, Funk Lab, SMAG Dance Collective, ZumbAtomic and the McGovern Ceili Dancers.

• I Am City Folk: Cityfolk will launch this year-long project that is part of its Culture Builds Community initiative. It will feature mosaics, compiled by local photographer Andy Snow using photos of Daytonians taken by Nicole Christian, on display throughout downtown. Contact Jean Howat Berry, Cityfolk’s education and outreach/Culture Builds Community coordinator, at 937-223-3655, ext. 3008.

Customers eat at the Oregon Express during Urban Nights in May. Many downtown eateries will offer specials and discounts the evening of Urban Nights.

• Dayton, Ohio! You Are Here! This large-scale performance piece will transform the Old Courthouse on Third and Main streets into a work of art through video projection and architectural lighting on the building’s exterior, as well as visual art and performances of dance, music and spoken word inside the historical building. Contact Peter Benkendorf at 732-5123 for more information.

• Over the Edge: Returning to the fall Urban Nights will be this challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower, which visitors can watch from Courthouse Square. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. For more information, contact Matt McDowell at 937-220-6855.

•Taste of the Miami Valley: This weekend-long event will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

• Downtown in Focus: Winning entries from this annual amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the PNC Center lobby.

• Business grand openings: Three new downtown businesses will host grand openings during Urban Nights: OinkADoodleMoo in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower, 10 W. Second St.; Brim, a new hat shop at 464 E. Fifth St.; LIVV Interior Designs, a home and office interior design firm at 520 E. Third St. in the Cannery; and Sew Dayton, featuring fabric and patterns, at 16 Brown St.

• Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights: Cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for, a community ride through the Urban Nights action hosted by Bike Miami Valley and ending at Courthouse Square. While the ride will be in parade fashion with a police escort, it is not appropriate for small children on their own bikes.

A family participates in Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a biking group that will ride through the city, meeting at 5:15 p.m. near Fifth Third Field.

This is just a small sampling of the many activities that will be part of the Sept. 14 Urban Nights. The event also includes live music on five outdoor stages, art exhibit openings at galleries and other creative spaces, discounts and specials at downtown restaurants and retail shops, a chalk walk, roaming entertainers, and more. In addition, Greater Dayton RTA will provide free event buses to help visitors get around; bus routes are included in the event map.
Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information. Urban Nights is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Wright Dunbar Inc., DP&L, Mix 107.7-FM, Greater Dayton RTA, Kaplan College, Business Furniture, Bob Ross Auto Group and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website, www.downtowndayton.org, has a complete list of downtown businesses, as well as a list of business resources, arts and cultural amenities, a dining guide, parking map, and much more.

DVAC Opens “In Vivo” – Artists, Scientists, Photosensitive Lab Coats and Wine in the Studio

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Erin Holscher Almazan - "Elaine" from the series Tethers

To kick-off its fall season, the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC) presents In Vivo: Erin Holscher Almazan, Francis Schanberger and Diane Stemper, opening for Urban Nights, Friday, September 14, 5-10 pm and running through October 20.  A homegrown showcase of the area’s most talented artists, the exhibiton features drawing and prints by University of Dayton (UD) faculty member Erin Holscher Almazan; photographs and prints by UD Artist-in-Residence Francis Schanberger; pen & ink drawings and artist’s books by Diane Stemper; and is curated by Bridgette Bogle, painter and art department Associate Professor, Sinclair Community College.

In Vivo: Latin for “within the living” exemplifies the artists’ investigations into biology, cosmology and anatomy. They approach their chosen subjects—classifying, categorizing and organizing—with a degree of the romantic, humorous, political or metaphorical.

Special Site Specific Project:  Anthotype and Photogram Coats by Francis Schanberger

Get ready for this: Schanberger will be tackling a fugitive photographic process called Anthotype—considered “fugitive” since the the image is created by the fading power of light.

With a background in biochemistry and cell biology, Schanberger’s affinity to lab coats is tied to their appeal as a symbol for a scientist, doctor or nineteenth century naturalist as well as an early experience in which his lab supervisor admonished him to “Never wear your lab coat outdoors. If you do, you will bring back spores that will contaminate our cell lines.”

Since 2004, he experimented with a dark ground (cyanotype) and light ground (anthotype) photogram designs on coats. For him, it is a way of brnging the outdoors back inside to “contaminate” the research being displayed. Experiments of the naturalists, both processes were used and invented by an early photographer.

The anthotype process is a very “green” photographic process that utilizes the fading power of light to “etch” an image on material coated with plant pigments. Berries, flower petals and beet roots are the favorite of practitioners of this photographic technique. It is considered a fugitive photographic process since the image is created by the fading power of light.

For DVAC’s Site Specific installation, the progress will be seen on Ash Seed Coat (In Progress During Exhibition), a saffron stained coat which will get about two hours of late, late afternoon exposure. He will also create an ash seed light resist which will form an image on both sides of the garment. The coat will have the added context of using a fabric dye used by monks in Asia. This final coat will be a mixture of the spiritual and scientific; an ephemeral recording of its time at the Dayton Visual Arts Center.

Francis Schanberger - "Don't Take This Personally"

Wait. What’s this About Wine in the Studio?

Picture this: a late Saturday afternoon: start at UD’s Print Studio; get an up-close and personal view of three artists’ materials and methods in a casual, behind-the scenes gathering; follow-up with a glass of wine or beer with the artists at Jimmie’s Ladder 11; head-out with your very own signed, limited edition print to start or add to your collection by one of your new artist friends. Ends before your Saturday night plans.

And that’s just what DVAC has organized for a small group of 24 guests. Studio Visit: A DVAC Field-trip will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Tickets available on a first-come; first-served basis and are $85 each; $100 couples. For Field-trip only (studio + 1 drink ticket each): $35 each, $50 couples.  A new experience. A deeper connection to art. A good time. RSVP to [email protected] or call 937.224.3822.

Diane Stemper - "Tropical Pursuits"

About the Artists

All three artists live, work and teach in Dayton; have won numerous grants and fellowships; and whose artwork is known and widely collected throughout the region and across the country. They will be featured in DVAC’s Fall exhibition: In Vivo: Erin Holscher Almazan, Francis Schanberger and Diane Stemper, Sep 14-Oct 20. Erin received her BFA from Minnesota State University Moorhead and her MFA in Printmaking from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York and is Associate Professor of Printmaking and Drawing at the University of Dayton. Francis received a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from University of California San Diego and MFA in Photograph and Digital Imaging from The Ohio Stte Unveristy and is Artist-in–Residence at the University of Dayton. Diane received a BFA in Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from San Francisco State University.

Call For Submissions! DAY OF THE DEAD Exhibition

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Missing Peace Art Space is graciously hosting/mounting the Community Ofrenda (altar) Day of the Dead Exhibition, SCHEDULED FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2012. This is a NON-JURIED show, and all submissions will be accepted, as long as they fit within the theme of Day of the Dead (which is NOT associated with Halloween and has little in common with images from that holiday). Items must not pose a safety issue — for example, candles are a very common item on an ofrenda, but if you want to incorporate them in your submission, please use battery-operated ones. Do keep in mind that this is a community exhibit for ALL AGES. It is not necessary to be an “artist” to contribute. Day of the Dead altar items are usually small by nature, but if you have something sizable in mind, please contact Gabriela Pickett at the gallery to make sure we are able to accommodate it.

Opening reception is on the actual Day of the Dead, FRIDAY, NOV. 2, which is a FIRST FRIDAY. The exhibition will run for the entire month of November.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS OCTOBER 15, 2012. ART NEEDS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE GALLERY ON OCT. 15, BETWEEN 3-5:30 P.M.

THERE WILL BE A WORKSHOP FOR ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE ON OCTOBER 13, FROM 1-5 P.M., AT THE GALLERY.

All items will be handled with great care, and all reasonable precautions will be taken to ensure the safety and integrity of artwork on loan for the exhibition, but the gallery cannot be responsible for any damage to artwork in the unlikely event that should happen.

Stay tuned for information and details about a gallery talk that will delve into the culture, history, origins and traditions of El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Also, the gallery is looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of this community-driven exhibition. Please contact Gabriela Pickett at the gallery, (937) 241-4353, if you’d like to volunteer. Contact the gallery at 234 S. Dutoit St, Dayton  for more information.

 

Festival Recap: Food Survivial at Dayton Revival

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“Jerk Chicken Wrap” from Caribbacanas

Did you get a chance to sample some of the “street eats” at The Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival?   The Big Ragu did !  In between our favorite musical acts, he experienced a truly unique Downtown Food Adventure.

It is so great not to have to deal with anyone in weird festival mode anymore, or a “sudden health kick for a night.”  You know the ones, who then they eat biscuits and gravy the next day after hiking in Kentucky.  Just eat the festival food and quit trying to impress your girlfriend.

The bash was hosted around 3 separate concert stages with indie bands, Ohio bands and some national feature acts.  Were you  listening to John Legend and enjoying legendary sandwiches? How about listening to Train while eating plantain?  Whatever the case, good food was available throughout the event in a 3 block area.  Some vendors were local, others were in from as far away as Miami, Florida.  The two day festival gave Daytonians plenty of time to sample vendor food in iconic places such as Cooper Park and in front of Memorial Hall.

 

Fried Pickles from The Dublin Pub

There were food trucks, grill setups and deep fryers a plenty! The aroma of freshly prepared specialties filled the air at the Dayton Revival.  Food vendors included local favorites like  Bessie’s Noodles, The Dublin Pub, Ritter’s Frozen Custard,  and Smokin’ Bar-B-Que.  Other Dayton based vendors we love included Red Wagon Cafe, Brock Masterson’s Catering and Frickers.

The Big Ragu also sampled food from places we were not so familiar with such as Caribbacanas, The Burrito Bus, D-Fish D-Chicken, Bourbon Street Grill and Cafe, Los Tucanes, Ma & Pa’s Kettle Corn, G’s Barbeque and Enrique’s Place Latin Grill.

Pork Sandwich from Bourboun Street Grill and Cafe

Take some time to browse through the incredible photos in the album below to get a taste of what was available for consumption.  From Gyros to fried fish, from beers to jerk chicken wings, we tried almost all of the offerings.  We covered the eats from fried pickles to kettle corn.  On this Food Adventure we learned this: nothing is better than good music, good food, with good friends in a great hometown.  What more could you ask for?

Did you get a chance to sample some of the foodstuffs at the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival ?  If so, what did you think?  Please comment below!

Do you REALLY want to like Food Adventures? Then hit us up on FACEBOOK by clicking here and “liking” our page !

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