Arts & Entertainment

PARIAH Starts Friday at THE NEON (One Week Only)!

April 4, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Though neither SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN nor IN DARKNESS were big hits for us, they both performed well enough to stick around for one more week. (Interestingly, both films have received rave reviews from our NEON regulars.) On Friday, we’re going to add one new title into the mix – a film about a young African American woman coming-of-age in Brooklyn. PARIAH has received perfect reviews from numerous critics, and Meryl Streep even acknowledged lead actress Adepero Oduye during her acceptance speech at this year’s Golden Globes (this was big news for Oduye – as she was the only name mentioned by Streep who wasn’t nominated for the award).

Synopsis for PARIAH: “Adepero Oduye portrays Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay), a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents Audrey and Arthur and younger sister Sharonda in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a flair for poetry, and is a good student at her local high school. Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the sometimes boisterous support of her best friend, out lesbian Laura, Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home, her parents’ marriage is strained and there is further tension in the household whenever Alike’s development becomes a topic of discussion. Pressed by her mother into making the acquaintance of a colleague’s daughter, Bina, Alike finds Bina to be unexpectedly refreshing to socialize with. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity – sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward.” (taken from Focus Features)

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

On Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30, we have a special treat for lovers of documentaries and vintage aircraft. “Each year the famous Doolittle Tokyo Raiders from WWII have a reunion to remember their mission, their comrades, and their heroic leader Gen. James Doolittle. In 2010, an extraordinary event took place – seventeen B-25 bomber crews volunteered to gather in honor of the Raiders, and over 70,000 people turned up to witness it. THE RESTORERS – THEY WERE ALL VOLUNTEERS follows the journey of a Minnesota B-25 named Miss Mitchell. Join this restored bomber as she travels to Dayton, Ohio to attend the largest B-25 gathering since WWII. Help us commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic Doolittle mission. The filmmakers and participants will be on-hand for discussion and questions. Cost: $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for children and veterans.” (synopsis provided by Adam White)

“In celebration of National Record Store Day, GHETTOBLASTER MAGAZINE will be hosting a special screening of EMPIRE RECORDS on Saturday, April 21 at 10:15pm. In addition to the movie we’ll be giving away two tickets for this year’s Nelsonville Music Festival and all proceeds will go toward 2012’s Dayton Music Fest. Other events that day include music trivia at Blind Bob’s from 4-6pm, live music throughout the day at Omega Music, Record Gallery and Feathers in the Oregon District and Toxic Beauty in Yellow Springs (Omega and Toxic will also be selling special RSD releases) and many local businesses will be offering discounts with a shown receipt from one of our local record stores.” (taken from press notes) Tickets for this event will be just $6 each (and only $4 each if you have a receipt from one of the local, indie record stores). Tickets will only be available on the night of the screening.

Do you want to win a trip to Paris? THE NEON has been happy to take part in selling raffle tickets for an upcoming benefit for AIDS Resource Center Ohio. Raffle tickets are $25 each or 6 for $100…and we still have a handful left. The drawing will take place on Saturday, April 28, and we will keep selling this tickets for another week.

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

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. April 6 – Thur. April 12:

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (PG-13) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20

IN DARKNESS (R) 2 Hr 33 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 5:00
Monday – Thursday: 5:00

PARIAH (R) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:10, 7:50, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:50

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.

Many of these dates will change. In some rare cases, titles may disappear.

April 13 JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME
April 13 THE RAID
April 20 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
April 27 FOOTNOTE
May 4 JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
mid-May DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
mid/late-May DARLIN COMPANION
May 25 THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
June 1 SOUND OF MY VOICE
July ? BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
July ? TO ROME WITH LOVE

Coming up in Dayton Theatre, April 5th – 20th

April 4, 2012 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Hey, all! Hope everyone got the chance to go see some of the rad theatre that happened around the area during the last couple weeks, I know I did!
As promised in my last update, I want to bring you guys some of the 2012-2013 season line-ups that have come to me. If your favorite theatre is missing, let me know and I’ll be sure to include it next time.

Season Announcements!

Beavercreek Community Theatre

Musical Chairs, directed by Matt Owens
September 7th through 16th
Auditions: July 9th and 10th.

The Sugar Bean Sisters directed by Doug Lloyd
October 16th – November 4th
Auditions: August 20th and 21st

On Christmas Day In The Morning (BCT Youth Theatre), directed by Teresa Connair
November 30th – December 9th
Auditions: October 16th and 17th

Steppin’ Out, directed by John Falkenbach
January 25th – February 3rd 2013
Auditions: November 26th and 27th

A Chorus Line, Directed by Doug Lloyd
March 1 – 10
Auditions: January 7th and 8th

The Canterbury Tales, or Geoffrey Chaucer’s Flying Circus (Youth), Directed by Teresa Connair
April 19th – 28th
Auditions: March 5th and 6th

Legally Blonde, The Musical, Directed by Chris Harmon
June 21st – 30th
Auditions: April 8th and 9th

More information, including synopsis, can be found at the Beavercreek Community Theatre Facebook Page.

Dayton Playhouse

Dracula, (director TBA)

October 12th – 21st

Scrooge, directed by Craig Smith
November 30th – December 16th

The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Jennifer Lockwood
January 25th – February 3rd

Thoroughly Modern Millie, directed by Richard Croskey
March 1st – 17th

The Retreat from Moscow, directed by Bill Brewer
April 12 – 21st

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, directed by Jim Lockwood
May 31st – June 16th

Synopses are available at the Dayton Playhouse website, but audition dates are not yet published:

The Dayton Theatre Guild

Opus, directed by Greg Smith
August 24th – September 9th

And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, directed by Debra Kent
October 5th – 21st

A Tuna Christmas, directed by Kathy Mola
November 23rd – December 9th

Ghosts, directed by Matthew W. Smith
January 17th – 27th

100 Saints You Should Know, directed by Ellen Finch
February 22nd – March 10th

Leaving Iowa, directed by Robb Willoughby
April 5th – 21st

Pillow Man, directed by Natasha Randall
May 17th – June 2nd

Synopses are available at the Dayton Theatre Guild website, no audition information published.

Playhouse South

A Little Princess, directed by Becki Norgaard
August 10th – 19th

Legally Blonde, The Musical (director TBA)
November 2nd – 17th

Little Shop Of Horrors, directed by Jenni Cypher
February 22nd – March 9th

Jekyll & Hyde, directed by Jen Skudlarek
May 10th – 25th

Synopses are available at the Playhouse South website, where audition information will be made available at a later date:

The Victoria Theatre Association/Premier Health Partners Broadway Series

White Christmas, November 27th – December 2nd
Shrek The Musical, January 15th – 27th
The Addams Family, March 5th – 10th
Mary Poppins, April 16th – 21st
Next To Normal, May 7th – 19th
Dreamgirls, June 4th – 9th.

More on VTA’s 2012-2013 season can be seen here.

I’m sure more theatres will be announcing their seasons in the coming weeks, but it’s already shaping up to be a dynamite year. And you have TWO opportunities to see Legally Blonde, The Musical. Well, 3 if you include the production in rehearsal currently by Vandalia Youth Theatre under the direction of Michael Wadham.
But let us not get so lost in future musings that we forget the present!

Now Playing

Gem Of The Ocean, by August Wilson

The Human Race Theatre Company
The Skinny: Each of the ten plays in the late August Wilson’s famed “Pittsburgh Cycle” covers a different decade of the 1900s in an urban African-American neighborhood, and Gem, while the next-to-last written, is the first chronologically. It’s set in 1904, an age when slavery no longer exists but oppression remains all too real, and where the problems of the residents seem overwhelming. At the core of the story is Aunt Ester, whose 285 years of life include a journey to America on a slave ship, and who uses her experiences to bring moral guidance to new generations.
Dates: Running through April 15th.
For tickets and more information, visit the Human Race Theatre Company website: www.humanracetheatre.org

Coming Soon!

Wishful Drinking, Starring Carrie Fisher

The Victoria Theatre Association
The Skinny: Fisher is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover. A colorful evening of what Fisher calls “talking about myself behind my back…”
Dates: April 10th – 22nd
Tickets: For more information visit the Victoria Theatre Association website.
(look for a DMM Feature interview with Carrie Fisher AND ticket contest later this week)

The Pearl

Zoot Theatre Company
The Skinny: Steinbeck’s epic tale of characters is perfectly caught in this sensitive one-act play
Dates: April 12th – 14th
Tickets: For more information, please visit the Zoot Theatre Company website.

Alright, that about wraps it up for me for this installment, but fear not! I’ll be back with more news in another fortnight! If anything happens between now and then that you need me to talk about, just let me know!

Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre: April 2-8

April 3, 2012 By Rob Bucher Leave a Comment

…BLINK AND THEY’RE GONE

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Stage Left

The Story: On the way to visit an old college professor, two clean cut young people, Brad Majors and his fiancée Janet Weiss, run into trouble and seek help at the freaky Frankenstein mansion. However, little did they know that the mansion is inhabited by alien transsexuals from the planet Transylvania and Dr. Frank N Furter is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments.
The Dates: April 5-7, 2012
Tickets and More Information: BTC listing

…NEW THIS WEEK

KARARAY WITH A ‘K’

Miami University Hamilton Theatre

The Story: An original musical created by the members of Miami University Hamilton WoRkShoP Theatre. The play not only features MUHTheatre students and community members, but hosts a variety of area performers in guest spots as well.
The Dates: April 5-14, 2012
Tickets and More Information: 513.785.3022 | BTC listing

OUR TOWN

Miami University

The Story: The stage manager takes the audience through Grover’s Corners as two families grow up, marry, live and die. OUR TOWN embraces mundane routine, passionate desire, life changing rituals, and our attempts to grasp the eternal aspects of our existence.
The Dates: April 5-15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Miami University | BTC listing

…CONTINUING

Kellen York in the title role of BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON. Photo by Deogracias Lerma.

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON uses the story of America’s controversial seventh president, “the man who invented the Democratic Party, doubled the size of our nation, and signed the Indian Removal Acts that started the Trail of Tears,” to investigate the attraction and terrors of American populism, using a raucous blend of outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality and an infectious rock n’ roll soundtrack.
The Dates: March 31-May 12, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Know Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Story: Frank Galati’s Tony Award-winning adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath tells a timeless tale of endurance and hope in a time of hardship. Having survived the drought of the 1930s only to see their home repossessed, the Joad family embarks on a harrowing journey from the Dust Bowl fields of Oklahoma to the fertile orchards of California. But the “promised land” isn’t exactly what they imagined. Can the Joads overcome the injustices that plague a nation in crisis?
The Dates: March 28-April 29, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | BTC listing

THE STAR SPANGLED GIRL

Cedarville University

The Story: In this uproarious comedy, we are introduced to Andy and Norman, producers of a protest magazine. Sophie, an Olympic swimmer and all-American girl who just moved into the apartment next door, pays the young men a good-neighbor visit. From that moment on, Norman is hopelessly smitten. His love for Sophie becomes an obsession, and he literally drives her crazy by ignoring her rejection and constantly interfering in her life. Meanwhile, Andy is preoccupied with fending off creditors and charming the landlady to avoid being evicted for not paying the rent. The situation is eventually resolved through a series of hilarious happenings set forth with the masterly skill and inventiveness that are the hallmarks of Neil Simon.
The Dates: March 29-April 15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cedarville Universtiy | BTC listing

Lindsey Kyler as Sherry and Eric Nelsen as Zack. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

TIGERS BE STILL

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

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

…ENDING THIS WEEK

Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Broadway in Cincinnati

The Story: It’s every parent’s nightmare. Your little girl has suddenly become a young woman, and what’s worse, has fallen deliriously in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. Yes, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has a “normal” boyfriend, and for parents Gomez and Morticia, this shocking development will turn the Addams house downside up.
The Dates: March 27-April 8, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Broadway in Cincinnati | BTC listing | BTC Review |

…COMING SOON

#THESHOW

Xavier University Players

The Dates: April 12-15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Xavier University Players | BTC listing

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR

Tri-County Players

The Dates: April 13-21, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Tri-County Players | BTC listing

THE FANTASTICKS

Xenia Area Community Theatre

The Dates: April 12-15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Xenia Area | BTC listing

MY FAVORITE YEAR

Northern Kentucky University

The Dates: April 12-22, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Northern Kentucky University | BTC listing

NOISES OFF

Beechmont Players

The Dates: April 12-15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Beechmont Players | BTC listing

PRELUDE TO A KISS

Oxford Area Community Theatre

The Dates: April 14-21, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Oxford Area Community Theatre | BTC listing

PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES

The Carnegie

The Dates: April 13-29, 2012
Tickets and More Information: The Carnegie | BTC listing

Mindy Heithaus & Justin Baldwin in REASONS TO BE PRETTY. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

REASONS TO BE PRETTY

New Edgecliff Theatre

The Dates: April 12-28, 2012
Tickets and More Information: New Edgecliff Theatre | BTC listing

SHATNER’S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT

Cincinnati Arts Association

The Dates: April 13, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Arts Association | BTC listing

THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS

Cincinnati Arts Association

The Dates: April 15, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Arts Association | BTC listing

THE NEON – Everything Must Go!

March 29, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Everything playing this week at THE NEON is heading out. THE HEDGEHOG is gone already, and today is your last chance to catch THIN ICE and FRIENDS WITH KIDS. Tomorrow (Mar. 30) we start two new films – SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN and IN DARKNESS – and they’ll both be playing exclusively at THE NEON!
For today’s remaining showtimes, please visit www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN: “From the beloved director of CHOCOLAT and the Oscar-winning screenwriter of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE comes the inspirational comedy SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN. A visionary sheik (Amr Waked) believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a ‘good will’ story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.” (taken from CBS Films)
Visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8YgX2EfbZs’]

Synopsis for IN DARKNESS: “In Darkness is based on a true story. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Lvov, a Nazi occupied city in Poland, one day encounters a group of Jews trying to escape the liquidation of the ghetto. He hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town’s sewers beneath the bustling activity of the city above. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement turns into something very unexpected, the unlikely alliance between Socha and the Jews as the enterprise seeps deeper into Socha’s conscience. The film is also an extraordinary story of survival as these men, women and children all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of ever increasing and intense danger.” (taken from Sony Pictures Classics)
Visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb2TyPfxaQU’]

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

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

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

SHOWTIMES for Fri. March 30 – Thur. April 5:

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (PG-13) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 5:40, 7:45, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20

IN DARKNESS (R) 2 Hr 33 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 3:30, 7:15

LUNAFEST (NR) Films + Q&A
Sunday: 3:00

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
April 6 JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME
TBD PARIAH
April 13 THE RAID
April 20 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
April 27 FOOTNOTE
mid-May DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
mid/late-May DARLIN COMPANION
May 25 THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
June 1 SOUND OF MY VOICE
July ? BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
July ? TO ROME WITH LOVE

Cityfolk: Culture Builds Community – Soul Rhythms

March 29, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Collaboration is an amazing gift! When you experience it, those moments of joined efforts and creative kinship are downright life changing. This is true in both cultural arts and community building. Collaboration means working together, engaging in common goals and welcoming folks from all traditions to share a common journey. That is Culture Builds Community!

Cityfolk engages in this process throughout the year, through the concert series, the summer festival and CBC. As Dayton’s traditional arts organization, we are grounded in the traditional arts – this generation’s “original,” knowing that it all trickles down to the next citizens/family members/artists to translate anew. Relationship patterns are horizontal and vertical; they thrive at a multitude of levels. Carried at each level are tangible takeaways: dance, cooking, music, poems, jewelry, quilts, paintings, puppets and more. We create it and hand it down. There’s a ladder of love in the abstract, a full life of expression in the real stories. That is Culture Builds Community!

When Cityfolk works in the schools, the effort is in sharing those art forms that represent an aspect of tradition that elementary aged children in 2012 may or may not know from family or educational experience. In some cases, families nourish their ethnic heritage through yearly celebrations or cherished belongings. Plenty of other folks may not know their ancestry, where their people came from. Many of us see ourselves as a fusion of cultures, a mix of many, and we bond with various traditions that move us or bring us joy. Whatever the case, Culture Builds Community celebrates the knowns and the unknowns. Every human being has a back story, a history with connections. CBC helps to both bring unique identity and common experience to the fore. The Welcome Dayton initiative celebrates the immigrant-friendly nature of the city. This inclusive approach fits beautifully with Cityfolk’s mission and CBC’s action.

For the past seven years, Culture Builds Community has lived into its identity by sharing arts-based cultural activities in Dayton’s urban neighborhoods. We’ve been building relationships with neighbors and area youth, through community events and the summer festival activities. Our signature piece is a residency project, bringing Visiting Artists together with Local Artists, Site Coordinators,Neighborhood School Centers and students to collaborate on a theme, through music and dance. This year is the most expansive program yet, involving all five NSC schools, five nationally acclaimed artists and a bevy of local talents and organizers to bring five cultural strands through an educational migration to a dynamic destination, the culminating performance. This year, Cityfolk presents CBC 2012 – Soul Rhythms: Traveling land and heart Through Music and Dance.

Soul Rhythms is engaged with the following schools:Fairview, Ruskin,Edison,Cleveland and Kiser. Each school is hosting a particular cultural expression, blending a team of intergenerational, multicultural folks together to make dances. These dances will be combined with works by visiting artists, local artists and collaborations between them, culminating in a dynamic performance!! While this project is one large collaborative effort, aspects of the whole are being realized in smaller pieces, to afford the most productive use of time and talent. Artists are working together, developing big ideas and sounds, swapping ideas with students; site coordinators are keeping the logistics tight, the attendance strong. It’s a well-oiled machine. Soul Rhythms is unfolding over seven weeks, taking us March through April. During week 1, the following artistic teams came together.

LaFrae Sci

LaFrae Sci

Fairview PreK-8 School welcomed percussionist and composer LaFrae Sci, nationally known artist, actively involved in Jazz atLincolnCenter, international teaching tours and her band, The Thirteenth Amendment. Ms. Sci is a native Daytonian! She is thrilled to be teaching in her hometown. She is working actively with Stivers Jazz band members, Renee McClendon (McClendon Institute) and Sierra Leone (Oral Funk Poetry), creating performance art with a group of 5th – 8th graders.

Hasan Isakkut

Hasan Isakkut

Ruskin PreK-8, together with East End Community Services, is hosting Turkish kanun player, Hasan Isakkut, who is working closely with community dancers from theTwinTowers neighborhood. These young dancers from the Ahiska tradition will share their folk dance tradition with students from Ruskin. Mr. Isakkut will bring his beautiful music to the dancers, collaborating with LaFrae Sci to include the signature folk dance rhythms for the group.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Ux-vkQruA&list=UUg5fynqGJhGq4_-HiK4lsVw&index=6&feature=plcp’]

Step Afrika

Step Africa

Edison PreK-8 welcomed Step Afrika, nationally acclaimed dance troupe, specializing in the African American fraternity step tradition. They have partnered withCentral State’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, to teach advanced step routines to the young people of the Wright Dunbar neighborhood. CSU worked with young people atEdison in February as part of Black History Month.

Hammerstep

Hammerstep

Cleveland PreK-8 is proud to showcase the innovative work of Hammerstep, a dance company blending Irish step and Hip Hop, among other forms, bringing a whole new genre of dance to Daytonians. Founding member Garrett Coleman graduated from U.D, so this is a homecoming of sorts for him. Hammerstep is working closely with Beth Wright, formerly of Rhythm in Shoes, and The Corndrinkers, a long-established, local band, playing old time traditional country music.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMEm2J6BIgE&list=UUg5fynqGJhGq4_-HiK4lsVw&index=1&feature=plcp’]

Sones de Mexico

Sones de Mexico

Kiser PreK-8 hosts Sones de Mexico from Chicago, bringing Mexican traditional music and dance to Old North Dayton. They are collaborating with local artist, Imelda Ayala and her local dancers, Orgullo Mexicano, along with Kiser students. The two artist teams bring dance from two different parts of Mexico!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMq4c15X3A&list=UUg5fynqGJhGq4_-HiK4lsVw&index=4&feature=plcp’]

Artistic Director, Rodney Veal is pulling together the dances and collaborations into a beautiful dynamic sequence, a performance that will keep the audience riveted for an hour and fifteen minutes, packed with the pride of homelands, including our collective home,Dayton Ohio! The dances reflect a rich collaboration on the theme of migration. The performance features the live music of each tradition, film work to augment the various expressions and a masterful sense of the journey. All artists and participants will perform!

The big day is April 22nd, 2012!!! You won’t want to miss this performance!!! There is only one!! Tickets are on sale now – $12 per seat -through the Cityfolk website or in our office,126 N. Main St,. Suite 220. Follow the project on Facebook. Check out videos of CBC artists and previous CBC projects on our YouTube channel. Next year’s plans are already cookin’! CBC will be more places, with more folks involved! We would like YOU to be among them!!! Call 223-3655×3008 for more information.

Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre: March 29-April 1

March 29, 2012 By Rob Bucher Leave a Comment

…BLINK AND THEY’RE GONE

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

Mason Community Players

The Story: A farcical black comedy revolving around Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police in Bronx, NY, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them; a brother who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home; and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein a german guy that is is a Nazi to conceal his identity and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff.
The Dates: March 29-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Mason Community Players | BTC listing

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: DRALION

Bank of Kentucky Center

The Story: Fusing the 3000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.
The Dates: March 28-April 1, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cirque Du Soleil | BTC listing

…NEW THIS WEEK

Photo by Jeremy Daniel.