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2 Hot, New Films Open Friday at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone,

If you haven’t had a chance to see this year’s Academy Award winning film IN A BETTER WORLD, you only have until Thursday to catch it at THE NEON.  (And you really shouldn’t miss it!)  On Friday, we will open 2 new films – Jodi Foster’s third directorial effort – THE BEAVER and Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary – POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD.

We will also hold I AM for a couple screenings per day for one more week.

Synopsis for THE BEAVER: “Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black was once a successful toy executive and family man who now suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can’t seem to get himself back on track… until a beaver hand puppet enters his life.”  (Summit Entertainment)

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Synopsis for POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD: “We live in an age where it’s tough even to walk down the street without someone trying to sell you something. It’s at the point where practically the entire American experience is brought to us by some corporation. Utilizing cutting-edge tools of comic exploration and total self-exploitation, Spurlock dissects the world of advertising and marketing by using his personal integrity as currency to sell out to the highest bidder. Scathingly funny, subversive, and deceptively smart, “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” shines the definitive light on our branded future as acclaimed filmmaker and master provocateur Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”) attempts to create the “Iron Man of documentaries,” the first ever “docbuster”! He may very well have succeeded.”  (Sony Picture Classics)

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Please Take Note – The YMCA has canceled their special screening of THE OTHER SIDE– previously scheduled for May 26.

A panel is in place for our screening of a powerful and moving documentary called WE WERE HERE.  “WE WERE HERE is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco.  It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.  Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself.  It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.”  WE WERE HERE will screen on June 16 at 7PM.  Tickets are $8 each and are currently available at THE NEON box office.  This screening is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center.   Be sure to take a look at the trailer, and get your tickets early.  After the film, we will have a discussion with representatives from AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Miami Valley Poz 4 Poz, an early HIV/AIDS community educator, and more.  Additionally, we will have the opportunity to see a series of incredible photographs in THE NEON’s lobby.  Here’s the story: Approximately half way through WE WERE HERE, there are several beautiful and chilling photos of a man with AIDS.  These photos were the final project of the late John Davis of Belmont, Ohio.  His sister contacted me a couple weeks ago and offered us the opportunity to display the entire series.  THE NEON will hang all 17 photographs in our lobby before the screening.

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If you’ve been to THE NEON lately, you’ve more than likely seen our note at the front counter about pricing.  Here’s what it states: “Effective June 3, 2011.  At THE NEON, we strive to have the best films, the best customer service and the best prices.  While we don’t intend on changing these goals, we must unfortunately raise our admission prices.  On June 3, all General Admission, Matinee and Senior Citizen tickets will increase by 50 cents.  Our ticket prices have not increased since August of 2008…and our new ticket prices will still be at least $2 less expensive than all the first-run multiplexes in the region.  Thanks for your understanding.”  We hope this won’t deter you from coming to THE NEON…as we have dozens of great films coming our way in the weeks and months ahead.

On Monday, May 30, we will open earlier than usual.  Because it’s Memorial Day, we will treat it like a weekend day. Perhaps we’ll see you then.

Take care,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for May 27 – June 2:

I AM (NR) 1 Hr 17 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: 1:00, 5:15

Tuesday – Thursday:  5:15

THE BEAVER (PG-13) 1 Hr 31 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: 1:10, 3:15, 5:20, 7:30, 9:45

Tuesday – Thursday:  3:15, 5:20, 7:30, 9:45

THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD (PG-13) 1 Hr 30 Min

Friday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:20, 9:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

June 3 BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK

June 3   WINTER IN WARTIME

June 10  INCENDIES

June 17  DOUBLE HOUR

June 24   MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

July 1  TREE OF LIFE

July 8  BUCK

July 15   PAGE ONE

July 15   BEGINNERS

TBD POTICHE

Academy Award Winner & FilmDayton Festival!

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Hello Everyone!

This is going to be a fun weekend for film lovers in Dayton.  In addition to a one-week-only engagement of this year’s Academy Award winning film IN A BETTER WORLD, The FilmDayton Festival has something for everyone.  (Incidentally, I saw IN A BETTER WORLD in Toronto last year.  It’s absolutely wonderful…don’t miss it!)  I AM will stick around for another week.

Synopsis for IN A BETTER WORLD: “Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Anton and his wife Marianne, who have two young sons, are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Their older, ten-year-old son Elias is being bullied at school, until he is defended by Christian, a new boy who has just moved from London with his father, Claus. Christian’s mother recently lost her battle with cancer, and Christian is greatly troubled by her death. Elias and Christian quickly form a strong bond, but when Christian involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences, their friendship is tested and lives are put in danger. Ultimately, it is their parents who are left to help them come to terms with the complexity of human emotions, pain and empathy.”  (Sony Pictures Classics)

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The FilmDayton Festival is here.  Their website is up and running with details about each film, each party, numerous special events and links for tickets.  Check out the website by clicking the image below.


Here are FilmDayton Festival screenings at THE NEON:

Friday, May 20 at 7:00 & 9:30 – WSU’s BIG LENS Film Festival

Saturday, May 21 at 10:30am – SCREENLESS SCREENING

Saturday, May 21 at 11:50am – FILMICALLY PERFECT

Saturday, May 21 at 1:00 – HOMERUN SHOWDOWN

Saturday, May 21 at 3:15 – BEAUTIFUL NOISE

Saturday, May 21 at 5:30 – INTO ETERNITY

Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 – NEW LEFT MEDIA Shorts

Saturday, May 21 at 8:15 – MARWENCOL

Saturday, May 21 at 10:30 – HUSK

Sunday, May 22 at 12:15 – SUNDOG & FILMDAYTON SHORTS

Sunday, May 22 at 2:40 – BILAL’S STAND

Sunday, May 22 at 4:45 – WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM

Sunday, May 22 at 7:00 – ROCKIN’ THE WALL

This just in…The YMCA has cancelled the screening of THE OTHER SIDE on May 26.

A panel is in place for our screening of a powerful and moving documentary called WE WERE HERE.  “WE WERE HERE is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco.  It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.  Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself.  It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.”  WE WERE HERE will screen on June 16 at 7PM.  Tickets are $8 each and are currently available at THE NEON box office.  This screening is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center.  Be sure to take a look at the trailer, and get your tickets early.  After the film, we will have a discussion with representatives from AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Miami Valley Poz 4 Poz, an early HIV/AIDS community educator, and more.  Additionally, we will have the opportunity to see a series of incredible photographs in THE NEON’s lobby.  I’ll give you more details about this special installation next week.

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

If you’ve been to THE NEON lately, you’ve more than likely seen our note at the front counter about pricing.  Here’s what it states: “Effective June 3, 2011.  At THE NEON, we strive to have the best films, the best customer service and the best prices.  While we don’t intend on changing these goals, we must unfortunately raise our admission prices.  On June 3, all General Admission, Matinee and Senior Citizen tickets will increase by 50 cents.  Our ticket prices have not increased since August of 2008…and our new ticket prices will still be at least $2 less expensive than all the first-run multiplexes in the region.  Thanks for your understanding.”  We hope this won’t deter you from coming to THE NEON…as we have dozens of great films coming our way in the weeks and months ahead.

Thanks so much for your interest in THE NEON.

Take care,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for May 20 – May 26:

IN A BETTER WORLD (PG-13) 2 Hrs

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:00, 7:15

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

I AM (NR) 1 Hr 17 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:15, 5:30, 9:40

Monday – Wednesday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:45

Thursday: 3:15, 5:15

FILMDAYTON

See Schedule Above

THE OTHER SIDE (NR) 40 Min + Q&A

Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

May 27 THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD

May 27 THE BEAVER

June 3 BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK

June 3   WINTER IN WARTIME

June 10  INCENDIES

June 17  DOUBLE HOUR

June 24   MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

July 1  TREE OF LIFE

July 8  BUCK

July 15   PAGE ONE

TBD   POTICHE

TBD  BEGINNERS

TBD MEEK’S CUTOFF

Sinclair presents The Women of Lockerbie

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The Women of Lockerbie - Sinclair Theatre - through May 21, 2011The Women of Lockerbie

Sinclair Theatre

Sinclair Community College welcomed to campus Award-winning playwright Deborah Brevoort, author of THE WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE, (through May 21, Blair Hall Theatre) Ms. Brevoort was on campus for a series of events culminating in a Meet-the-Artist reception after the opening night performance on May 13th.

The Women of Lockerbie is based on events surrounding the tragic bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.  It is the winner of a Silver Medal, Onassis International Playwriting Competition and the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award.

The Women of Lockerbie - Sinclair Theatre - through May 21

"A moving, thoughtful exploration of how grief changes over time." —The New Yorker

The story revolves around a mother from New Jersey who roams the hills of Lockerbie, Scotland looking for her son’s remains, which were lost in the crash of Pan Am 103. She meets the women of Lockerbie, who are fighting the US Government to obtain the clothing of the victims found in the plane’s wreckage. The women, determined to convert an act of hatred into an act of love, want to wash the clothes of the dead and return them to the victim’s families. The Women of Lockerbie is loosely inspired by a true story, although the characters and situations in the play are purely fictional. Written in the structure of a Greek tragedy, it is a poetic drama about the triumph of love over hate.

“Playwright Deborah Brevoort has a gift for high poetry and her descriptions of the day when death came raining down on Scotland are impressively moving…endowed with character, poetry and a core of touching emotion…” —Time Out London

Director Kimberly Borst, new performance faculty member at Sinclair, has selected a cast including: Allison Husko, William Courson, Rachel Wilson, Rebecca Sebree, Angela Dermer, Laura Wagner and Chris Hahn.

-SA/SCC Press Release

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Sinclair Theatre LogoTHE WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE – through May 21

Remaining performances include the Downtown Dayton Thursday Nights performance at 7 p.m. on May 19th. as well as 8pm performances on  Friday and Saturday, May 20-21.

All seats are reserved and cost $15 adults and $10 for students/seniors.  For more information or to purchase tickets online now go to: Sinclair.edu/arts.

Box office is  open 11-3 Monday through Friday and one hour prior to performances. 937-512-2808.

NOTE:  ALL Thursday tickets cost an additional $5 each and include pre-show appetizers and cash bar for Sinclair’s popular Downtown Dayton Thursday Nights.

Sinclair Theatre Fall 2011 Auditions

Sinclair Theatre Holds Auditions
For Two Fall Productions

The Crucible - Sinclair Theatre - Fall 2011Sinclair Community College’s Theatre Department will hold open auditions for its fall productions of The Crucible and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, on Monday, June 6 from 6-8 pm in room 2L12, building 2, on the Sinclair campus.

Performance dates for The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, are October 14-22 in Blair Hall Theatre. Callbacks will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on June 7th.

Performance dates for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, book & lyrics by Joe Dipietro, music by Jimmy Roberts, are November 3-6 in the building 2 Studio. Callbacks will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on June 8th.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change - Sinclair Theatre - Fall 2011Participants may prepare an audition of up to 4 minutes and must include:  a classic/dramatic monologue, AND either a contemporary/comedic monologue or
16-32 bars of a song from a Broadway musical (accompanist provided).

Call 512-4580 for an audition appointment or sign up in room 2220.

Go Into Your Dance!

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Photo Credit: Cory MacPherson

Wright State University supplies a breezy and joyful production of the tuneful tap dance extravaganza “42nd Street,” Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble, Harry Warren and Al Dublin’s hokey yet engaging Depression-era love letter to musical theater based on the 1933 film of the same name.

Much of the success of this highly entertaining showcase, attractively designed by costumer D. Bartlett Blair and scenic artist Tamara L. Honesty, stems from the indelible influence of choreographer Rick Conant, who has staged numerous productions of “42nd Street” across the country and internationally specifically recreating the original choreography of the legendary Gower Champion (“Bye Bye Birdie,” “Hello, Dolly!”). From the rousing tap frenzy of the opening “Audition” and the circular fluidity of “Getting Out of Town” to the cheery exuberance of “We’re In the Money” and the carefree flair of “Lullaby of Broadway,” Conant winningly upholds Champion’s legacy without embellishment. He also seamlessly shares directing credit with Joe Deer, who astutely chose to produce the original 1980 script which is tighter and more succinct than the 2001 revival extraneously equipped with additional scenes/songs.

Conant and Deer’s wonderfully spirited cast is impressively headlined by amiable triple threat Alyssa Hostetler who was born to play Peggy Sawyer, the unassuming hoofer from Allentown, PA who becomes the saving grace of the Broadway-bound musical comedy “Pretty Lady.” Hostetler’s humility and naietve are pleasant attributes as Peggy faces her share of adversity, but her particularly fantastic tap abilities is a hallmark of the opening scene and remains a knockout. Valerie Reaper’s beautiful vocals add to the enjoyment of her deliciously biting yet vulnerable portrayal of aging diva Dorothy Brock. Reaper’s renditions of “Shadow Waltz” and “I Know Now” are as lovely as “About a Quarter to Nine” which she shares with Hostetler. Jason Collins, a firm baritone, is a natural fit as the demanding producer-director Julian Marsh, but he occasionally flubbed his dialogue at the performance attended which lessened Julian’s self-assured persona.

Further, terrific tenor Zach Cossman has slight difficulty balancing the charm and vanity within “Pretty Lady” leading man Billy Lawlor, but he is certainly smooth and debonair while leading the elegant “Dames” and winningly shares the spotlight with Hostetler in a captivating tap sequence during the title number. Hilary Fingerman and Joey Monda are naturally comedic and likable as Maggie Jones and Bert Barry, co-writers of “Pretty Lady.” Alex Sunderhaus, Darien Crago and Sarah Agar are respectively animated, endearing and vivacious as chorines Anytime Annie, Phyllis and Lorraine. Sunderhaus notably joins Monda for a very cute and playful rendition of “Shuffle Off to Buffalo.” Ian Blanco truly shines in “Audition” as choreographer Andy Lee. Alex Horton (Abner Dillon), Riley Able (Pat Denning) and Blaine Boyd (Mac) are solid in additional supporting roles.  Musical director Rick Church leads an outstanding orchestra.

If you’re looking for an upbeat escape featuring some of the finest dancing seen on any stage this season, don’t hesitate to buy a ticket to “42nd Street.”

42nd Street, which opened Thursday, May 12, continues through Sunday, May 29 in the Festival Playhouse Stein Auditorium of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. Performances are Wednesday at 7 p.m. (May 18 only), Thursday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 70 minutes; Act Two: 45 minutes. Tickets are $17-$19. For tickets or more information, call (937) 775-2500.

Lukewarm Drag

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The Dayton Playhouse has a history of embracing challenges, but the organization overreaches and stumbles with a shaky season-ending production of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s 1983 musical “La Cage aux Folles,” based on the 1973 play by Jean Poiret.

At its core, “La Cage” is a funny, touching and thought-provoking portrait of a family at odds, but it is also a bold look into a world of mystery, seduction and sensuality, pivotal elements missing in director Doug Lloyd’s dispassionate staging saddled with low energy. The titular St. Tropez nightclub specifically thrives on its entertaining chorus line of Cagelles yet the lukewarm individuals cast in the daring roles fail to typify the troupe’s “notorious” and “dangerous” reputation. Timidity and trepidation is not an option for the Cagelles, and although no one expects the Playhouse to produce an expert quality of drag on par with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (did anyone tell Dayton’s own India Farrah about “La Cage” auditions?), their underdeveloped presence is problematic despite the effort. Without setting the proper tone at the forefront with credible Cagelles, towering examples of individuality and pride defiantly proclaiming “We Are What We Are,” “La Cage” simply loses its identity, morphing into a show that is more about costumes than character.
Even so, the production is primarily and respectively kept afloat by the admirable, witty contributions of Michael Boyd and Richard Croskey in the central roles of La Cage owner/emcee Georges and his female impersonator lover Albin. Croskey, particularly appealing as the flamboyant drag queen Zaza while delivering the saucy title number and the riveting anthem “I Am What I Am,” provides big laughs early in Act 2 when Albin is encouraged to discover his masculinity. This duo establishes a compatible bond and convey genuine parental concern when Georges and Albin’s son Jean-Michel (Zach King) announces his engagement to Anne Dindon (Sarah Parsons), the daughter of unabashedly conservative parents.
In notable featured roles, King, so wonderful ushering in “Springtime for Hitler” in the Playhouse’s marvelous production of “The Producers” last summer, struggled vocally at the performance attended, but is well paired with the winsome Parsons and effectively reiterates Jean-Michel’s insistence that the Dindons meet his parents in the traditional sense by requesting the presence of his estranged birth mother Sybil. Duante Beddingfield is a prime source of comic relief as the fussy Jacob yet his excitable nature  feels out of sync because of the off-kilter dynamic among the cast. At the same rate, due to the show’s sheer unevenness, Jeff Campbell and a particularly terrific Karen Righter are able to steal the show as the uptight Edouard and Marie Dindon. Chris Hammond is very engaging as the bubbly Jacqueline.
Elsewhere, set designer Chris Harmon offers one of his most colorful, efficient creations. Choreographer Stacy Gear’s routines are intended to be lively, but lack zest in execution. Stephanie Dickey, Karen Dickey and Kaitlyn Osborn are responsible for the costumes. Music director Ron Kindell leads a steady off-stage orchestra.
This “La Cage” is underwhelmingly stuck in neutral, reticent to truly sparkle and come alive, but perhaps all involved will coalesce to embrace and simply sell the delightful musical theater magic within the material before the production must sashay away.

La Cage aux Folles, which opened Friday, May 13, continues through Sunday, May 29 at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 70 minutes; Act Two: 65 minutes. Tickets are $10-$15. For tickets or more information, call (937) 424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.org. In related news, the Playhouse’s 2011-12 season will consist of Jekyll & Hyde, Abie’s Irish Rose, Scrooge, Nunsense, Bus Stop and The Sound of Music.

Calling all filmmakers, screenwriters and film lovers…

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The following is from Eva Buttacavoli – Executive Director for FilmDayton.

Once again, hometown pride will infuse the FilmDayton Festival, but this year organizers have added a bonus.  Themed “From Dayton/For Dayton,” the third annual festival, to be held May 20-22, 2011, will put the spotlight on the 27 filmmakers, screenwriters and producers — 21 of them native or current Daytonians — that are making compelling films in Ohio and beyond. The festival will give film-lovers a chance to meet, mingle and participate in in-depth discussions with these guest artists.

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Film-goers can count on Dayton-connected films created by regional filmmakers, as well as the “best of the fests” — compelling films that have been featured at such prominent film festivals as Sundance and South by Southwest — which FilmDayton brings to Dayton first.   Audiences are invited to experience and interact with films and filmmakers who are addressing such hot topics as the war in Afghanistan (WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM), the threat of nuclear meltdown (INTO ETERNITY), life in an American Muslim-community (BILAL’S STAND) mental trauma (MARWENCOL) and more.

The Dayton Connection

The hometown spotlight will be on most of the films and filmmakers.  Former Daytonian, Joe Gressis’ HOMERUN SHOW DOWN is a family-friendly little league comedy featuring big-name stars Barry Bostwick, Dean Cain and Annabeth Gish. HOMERUN was partially filmed at Fifth Third Field and includes support (and sly product placement) by Joe’s friends John Stafford, Staffords Jewelers.  Former Dayton TV personality, Steve Tatone, living and working in Sarasota, brings the music-themed drama BEAUTIFUL NOISE, whose rocker co-star, Kimber Cleveland, will also perform at Gilly’s on Saturday night. Wright State students Chase Whiteside and Erick Stoll, whose politically-charged documentary shorts have appeared on “The Daily Show,” will present a NEW LEFT MEDIA SHORTS program. Dayton-based co-producer and statewide film community advocate, Karri O’Reilly, brings us the horror film, HUSK. With a trailer that already has been scaring the beejeezus out of folks, the film features a group of friends stranded in a desolate cornfield . . . guess what happens next? And finally, celebrating UD professor and screenwriter, Larry Schweikert’s compelling story of rock and roll’s part in bringing down the Berlin Wall and smashing the Iron Curtain, we’ll present ROCKIN’ THE WALL.

Emerging hometown filmmakers are featured in our two “festivals within the festival,” BIG LENS, featuring shorts from Wright State University Motion Pictures Program students and grads, as well as the SUNDOG & FILMDAYTON SHORTS DOUBLE FEATURE by local High School and college students.

Looking homeward is also the theme of the 2nd annual collaboration with Public Radio Station WYSO 91.3. SCREENLESS SCREENING presents “sound pictures” and sound-rich documentaries prevalent in popular public radio programs such as “This American Life” and “StoryCorps.”  Local students from WYSO’s current “Community Voices” training project will present their radio stories for the first time as part of this film festival favorite. In addition, they will attend a master class with public radio personality, Ira Glass who will be speaking at the Victoria Theatre on Sunday evening. Neenah Ellis, general manager of WYSO said, “We are training people to tell the stories of the Miami Valley. Come and support these new radio producers!”

Celebrating more Dayton Reunions – The FilmDayton Screenwriting Conference

The two-day FilmDayton Screenwriting Conference, running concurrently with the festival , features 4 Dayton connections. The conference, held at ThinkTV, will include intensive hands-on workshops and lectures from nationally recognized writers as author and script consultant Dara Marks (“Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc”) Emmy-winning writer/producer and WSU-grad, Erik Bork (HBO’s BAND OF BROTHERS), WSU-grad and Sundance award winning writer/director Nichol Simmons (DRY MOUNT) and WSU-grad and Emmy-nominated writer Kevin A. Kramer (Cartoon Network’s animated series CHOWDER.)

Film Festival offers audiences a chance to meet creators of compelling films

The FilmDayton Festival is proud to present filmmakers, screenwriters and producers for just about every event.

“There is a vibrant film community here, with many Daytonians working in the film industry throughout the country,” said FilmDayton executive director, Eva Buttacavoli. “The festival is an opportunity to showcase our local talent, bring some from LA back to their hometown, and invite the audience out to celebrate them in a full-immersion film weekend.”

Movies and more FROM Dayton — featuring films that have roots or take their cue, from right here in the Miami Valley. Films made by people who grew up and learned their craft here. And films FOR Dayton — featuring the “best of the fests” which FilmDayton brings to you first.

Audiences can participate in filmmaker Q&As after most of the screenings. Audiences can also attend events and parties that include filmmaker, screenwriter and producer guests as well. At PITCH-IT! they can watch the fun as amateur and professional filmmakers pitch their ideas to a panel of industry professionals including Dayton TV personality JIm Bucher, screenwriter and film educator Thomas Girvin and writer/director Nichol Simmons — for a cash prize. At Filmically Perfect: Imperfectly In-Person, J. Todd Anderson — Dayton-based filmmaker and storyboard artists for such directors as the Coen brothers — and George Willeman — film archivist, writer and producer — will record their WYSO 91.3-FM Public Radio show “Filmically Perfect” in front of a live audience. Hosted by Niki Dakota, WYSO music director. And closing the Festival, everyone is invited to the Filmmaker Meet and Greet & Closing Party on Sunday night.

“This very special opportunity allows our audiences to talk directly with the filmmakers about their work,” said Buttacavoli. “We are thrilled that so many of the filmmakers will be here to share their creative processes and discuss their films – all in a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s a chance for film lovers to have meaningful dialogues with the filmmakers whose work they are viewing.”

FilmDayton Board member and film producer Karri O’Reilly said, “One of the aspects of the festival that we have worked very hard on is audience access to the filmmakers.  The opportunity to meet with and learn from professional filmmakers brings a dimension to the film going experience that you can’t get from a regular screening or even a DVD commentary,” she continued. “Our past filmmakers have been very gracious with their time in speaking to film students and film enthusiasts, and sharing their knowledge and experience. I anticipate that this year’s group will want to do likewise.”

“Bringing outside filmmakers to the Dayton area not only gives our local film community the chance to interact with talent from around the globe, it gives the outside world exposure to the level of talent we have right here at home.”

All film screenings will take place at NEON Movies. Parties, events, workshops and the Screenwriters Conference take place at venues close by.

Check out the website at www.filmdaytonfestival.com for film trailers, filmmakers’ biographies, a full schedule of events and locations as well as other information.

Film Festival and ScreenCon tickets are on sale at www.filmdaytonfestival.com and may be purchased at NEON Movies during the festival. All-access passes to film screenings, events and parties are $75, and individual film tickets are $7. ScreenCon is $149 for the full conference (includes meals, screenings, parties and a ticket to see Ira Glass) and $15 for single workshops.

Travel the World Locally – At A World A’Fair (Win Tickets!)

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Soin International and the Dayton International Festival, Inc (DIFI) present the 38th Annual International Festival, A World A’Fair May 20-22 at the Dayton Convention Center.

Since the 1970’s the festival has been celebrating diversity in food, music, dancing, ethnic dress, exhibits and cultures from around the world. This year’s theme is Wedding Customs Around The World and features an exciting and diverse selection of traditional wedding customs, music, dance and stories. One of the festival’s highlights this year is an actual wedding that will take place on Saturday, May 21st at 12:00 noon on the informal stage.

Back by popular demand are the astonishing Kenya Safari Acrobats who have been entertaining audiences around the world for more than a decade. Incorporating native culture into a high energy show, they take acrobatics to jaw dropping extremes to thrill and delight people of all ages. Spectators are always amazed at their human pyramids, balancing acts and limbo dances. This unique and entertaining troupe will be performing gravity-defying feats on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Dayton International Festival is very proud to have Carolyn Stovall as the 2011 Honorary Chairperson. She was awarded this honor for her many years of service to the DIFI organization. Carolyn has been active in the Miami Valley Folk Dancers for 50 years, dancing for many of those years, and later served as a well-respected teacher.

A World A’Fair is proud to recognize Soin International as the title sponsor of this celebration. Headquartered in Dayton, Soin International is a private, multinational holding company that serves global customers through offices in North America, Europe and India. Rajesh K. Soin, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Soin International is a successful businessman known throughout the world for his business acumen, leadership and expertise in growth oriented businesses covering multiple industries.

“A World A’Fair promotes the rich cultural diversity that exists in our community and embraces the aspects which make us unique”, said Raj Soin, Chairman of Soin International. “This event provides an opportunity for everyone in the greater Dayton area to appreciate the differences among people of various cultures and experience their own cultures, history and traditions.”

New for 2011, is the Health Fair presented by the Asian American Council of Dayton. Available to all attendees on Saturday, May 21, visitors will be offered free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, ADHD, HIV, depression and anxiety. Educational information and workshops on dental care will also be provided. There will also be an opportunity to register as a bone marrow donor.

The ever popular Children’s Area, which is sponsored by the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, will once again be available for families to hear stories from around the world, learn songs, participate in games and engage in crafts. It provides a great opportunity for children to expand their horizons and learn about the variety of foods and cultures from around the world. Back by popular demand are the well known passports, which are sponsored by Premier Health Services. Children can have their “passports” stamped as they travel from booth to booth with a chance to win prizes donated by the member organizations of DIFI. Also returning this year will be a Naturalization Ceremony celebrating new citizens, which will take place on Saturday, May 21.

Countries represented at A World A’Fair include: Countries of Africa, China, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan,  Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico,  Scotland,  South Slavic Countries, Turkey and Vietnam.

A World A’Fair is open to the public on the following dates and times:

Friday, May 20           5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 21      11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 22         11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

There is a fee for attendance with tickets available at the door for the following prices:

Adults $7.00                Senior Citizens $5.00              Youth (6-18) $4.00

Advance sale tickets are available at AAA, Siebenthaler’s and Krogers and offer discounts for the adult and youth tickets.

In addition to Soin International, the event is also sponsored by TDH Marketing, Teradata, CareSource, The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, Clear Channel, Kroger, the Oakwood Register, Cultural Works, WHIO TV 7, Montgomery County, and Jim Rohal Design, Erie Construction and the Ohio Arts Council. A World A’Fair also recognizes the special support for the wedding couple from Price Stores, Wicked Cake Creations and Ramada Inn, Wagner Ford Road.

The International Festival, A World A’Fair, was the vision and dream of Father Gabriel J. Rus, SM (1910-1979) and Aldona Ryan of Lithuania. With the help of many others, including the then director of the Dayton Council on World Affairs, Mrs. Maxine Stucke, the idea of an ethnic celebration was formed. From 1973 through 1977, the World A’Fair was a committee of the Dayton Council on World Affairs. In 1978 under the supervision of Legal Counsel, Mr. Tom Folino, A World A’Fair was incorporated as a non-profit organization, known as the Dayton International Festival, Inc. It has grown to include the cultures of more than 35 participating groups. For more information including the schedule of all performances, visit www.aworldafair.org.

Win Tickets!

We have four family four-packs of tickets to give away to our readers – simply fill out the form below by Wednesday 5/18 at midnight and we’ll draw random winners on Thursday.  Good luck!

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Tom Shadyac’s I AM Starts Today!

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Hello Everyone.
Opening this week is a film that was quietly released back in February.  No one asked me about it.  Then the press started to hit a few weeks ago – radio shows, afternoon talk shows (including Oprah)…and we started getting numerous calls and e-mails.  Tom Shadyac’s I AM is a documentary that we hope will live up to the requests.
In addition to opening I AM, we will hold onto OF GODS AND MEN and JANE EYRE for one more week.
Synopsis for I AM:  “I AM, a probing exploration of our world, what’s wrong with it, and what we can do to make it better, represents Tom Shadyac’s first foray into non-fiction following a career as one of Hollywood’s leading comedy practitioners, with such successful titles as ACE VENTURA, LIAR LIAR, and BRUCE ALMIGHTY to his credit. I AM recounts what happened to the filmmaker after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged a changed man. Disillusioned with life on the A-list, he sold his house, moved to a mobile home community, and decided to start life anew.”  (Shady Acres Entertainment) Visit the OFFICIAL SITE
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeqB8JwpdE4&playnext=1&list=PL021CA823EA86DB07′]
Tickets are now available on at THE NEON box office for next week’s special screening of VEER.  “Start your Miami Valley Cycling Summit experience a day early with Bike Film Night at THE NEON on Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 – featuring the Dayton premier of VEER.  This critically acclaimed documentary tells the stories of people who have made a difference in the world of cycling, and how cycling has made a real difference in people’s lives.  Join us for this inspiring film and support one of the Miami Valley’s own cycling advocate organizations: Bike Miami Valley.  All proceeds from your $5 admission will benefit this growing cycling non-profit organization.” (taken from press release) Visit the SITE
The FilmDayton Festival is next weekend – May 20-22.  Their website is up and running with details about each film, each party, numerous special events and links for tickets.  Check out the OFFICIAL SITE.
On May 26 at 7:30, the YMCA will hold a special event at THE NEON.  “THE OTHER SIDE, a documentary by Baxter Stapleton, captures the story of two worlds colliding through mentoring.  Two successful business men living in the comfort of suburbia – surrounded with personal possessions and notoriety –  realized they were unfulfilled and wanted a greater purpose.  This desire to make a difference led them to reach out to the other side.  In doing so, they realized that both sides had lessons to teach. The film implores the audience to remember that in giving you receive.” (taken from press notes)   Tickets for this event are $8 and will be available at our box office starting this weekend.
Almost all details are in place for our screening of a powerful and moving documentary called WE WERE HERE.  That said,  new element was introduced to the event yesterday evening – when a local woman called me with a very interesting proposal…I’ll give you the full update next week.  “WE WERE HERE is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco.  It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.  Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself.  It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.”  WE WERE HERE will screen on June 16 at 7PM.  Tickets are $8 each and are currently available at THE NEON box office.  This screening is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center.
Be sure to take a look at the trailer, and get your tickets early.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCxqJgpejbs’]
If you’ve been to THE NEON lately, you’ve more than likely seen our note at the front counter about pricing.  Here’s what it states: “Effective June 3, 2011.  At THE NEON, we strive to have the best films, the best customer service and the best prices.  While we don’t intend on changing these goals, we must unfortunately raise our admission prices.  On June 3, all General Admission, Matinee and Senior Citizen tickets will increase by 50 cents.  Our ticket prices have not increased since August of 2008…and our new ticket prices will still be at least $2 less expensive than all the first-run multiplexes in the region.  Thanks for your understanding.”  We hope this won’t deter you from coming to THE NEON…as we have dozens of great films coming our way in the weeks and months ahead.
Thanks so much for your interest in THE NEON.
We hope to see you soon!
Take care,
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for May 13 – May 19:

JANE EYRE (PG-13) 2 Hrs
Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  12:30, 5:15
Monday – Wednesday:  5:15
Thursday:   5:00
I AM (NR) 1 Hr 17 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  1:00, 3:15, 5:15, 7:30, 9:30
Monday – Thursday:  3:15, 5:15, 7:30
OF GODS AND MEN (R) 2 Hrs 2 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:50, 8:00
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 8:00
Thursday:   2:50
VEER (Miami Valley Cycling Summit event)
Thursday: 7:30
COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.
In some cases, titles may disappear.
May 20 IN A BETTER WORLD
May 27   THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD
May 27  THE BEAVER
June 3  BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK
June 3   WINTER IN WARTIME
June 10 INCENDIES
June 17  DOUBLE HOUR
June 24   MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
July 1  TREE OF LIFE
July 8  BUCK
July 15   PAGE ONE
TBD   POTICHE
TBD  BEGINNERS
TBD MEEK’S CUTOFF

Historical, musical, inspiring: Bernstein’s Mass

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Just a quick note. I had the privilege of attending the dress rehearsal Thursday of Bernstein’s Mass, a theatre piece of musicians, singers, dancers. I have just one word: GO. If you possibly can, and you can get a ticket, GO.

From Dayton Philharmonic’s Website:

Using orchestra, chorus, children’s chorus, rock and blues bands, marching band, singers, dancers, and actors, Bernstein tells the powerful story of a group of disillusioned street people who join a visionary leader for a moving voyage of discovery and faith. This groundbreaking creative collaboration between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wright State University Theatre, Dance ­and Music Departments promises to be the regional performance event of the season, if not the decade.

…Go In Peace – Bernstein’s Mass Graces the Schuster Stage

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Leonard Bernstein's MASS: a Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra & Wright State University Music, Theatre & Dance Departments, 2011Leonard Bernstein’s MASS:  A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

Wright State University Departments of Music, Theatre, and Dance

A famous reclusive American novelist once mused that “art and controversy seem to be joined at birth”.  Indeed every generation has its authors, songwriters, painters, sculptors, dancers, and creators exploring the darker side of human nature and in so doing, challenging the moral center of American life.  Whether its a ‘Catcher In The Rye’ – style uproar or a team of protestors on a mission to take down a certain boy wizard, controversy has been at the center of some of the greatest artistic achievements of our time.  Why? Well, often its because the best art challenges us to look at ourselves differently and with a critical eye – and let’s face it, Americans don’t like that! This weekend, a once deeply controversial work opens in Dayton in a new, glorious production sure to inspire a new following of fans (and protestors) alike.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Leonard Bernstein entering the Kennedy Center Opera House for a performance of Mass in 1972 (photo from the Library of Congress)

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis & Leonard Bernstein at Kennedy Center, Sept. 8, 1971

Forty years ago, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis selected the famed Leonard Bernstein to compose a monumental work to memorialize her late husband and 35th President of the United States,  John F. Kennedy.   The piece was to premiere on September 8, 1971 at the official opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.  The piece  follows the structure of a Roman Catholic Mass, but includes elements of many styles typical of the contemporary American musical landscape of the period:  Blues, Rock, Showtunes and Opera.  While the liturgical text of Mass is in Latin, Bernstein and collaborators Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Children of Eden) and Paul Simon (as in Simon & Garfunkel) contributed additional English texts.

The piece examines faith, specifically crisis in faith.  Considering the political landscape, Vietnam war, and the assassinations of the 1960’s, including that of JFK, the concept of addressing a personal crisis of faith through art was not necessarily anomalous, yet Bernstein’s Mass was not without controversy.  With it’s  anti-war themes,  it is no wonder this piece was received with both joyful acclaim and turbulent disdain in the fall of 1971.

This collaborative production between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State’s Music, Theatre and Dance departments is likely to be awe-inspiring.  The piece itself is complex.  It is symphonic & theatrical.  The musical elements will surely be accompanied by the most amazing visual imagery possible- breathtaking choreography, costuming and scenery.  The creative forces behind this production will surely give you something thrilling to discuss over coffee after the performance, and in the days to follow.

Bernstein's Mass - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra & Wright State Music, Theatre & Dance - May 13-14, 2011

Bernstein's Mass - in rehearsal on the Schuster Center's Mead Theatre Stage

Official Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Press Release: Dayton Philharmonic Logo

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2010-2011 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Classical Series will conclude in spectacular fashion with performances of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers on Friday and Saturday, May 13 & 14, 2011, both performances at 8 p.m. at the Schuster Center.

Bernstein's MASS - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State University Music, Theatre & Dance - May 13-14, 2011

This production will fuse the talents of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra with faculty and students from Wright State University in an unprecedented way.  Neal Gittleman, Music Director of the DPO, will conduct.  Greg Hellems of the WSU Department of Theatre is stage director and Gina Walther, of WSU’s Dance Department, is choreographer.  Staging has been designed by WSU’s Pam Knauert Lavarnway and choral forces are being prepared by WSU’s Hank Dahlman.  The production is under the overall artistic supervision of WSU’s W. Stuart McDowell, chair of the WSU Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures.

All instrumental musicians – on stage and in the pit, and including rock and blues bands as well as traditional orchestral configurations – will come from the ranks of the DPO, while all actors, singers, and dancers – more than 100 in total – will be WSU students.  The production will also include the Kettering Children’s Choir under the direction of Natalie DeHorn and noted tenor John Wesley Wright in the crucial role of The Celebrant.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington, D.C.Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers was commissioned by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening of the national arts center named in honor of her late husband, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.  The work premiered as part of the Kennedy Center’s opening festivities on September 8, 1971.

Bernstein’s MASS is based on the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church, but is not at all a traditional concert setting.  Although there are liturgical passages that are sung in Latin, MASS also includes additional texts in English written by Bernstein, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), and pop/folk singer Paul Simon. Leonard Bernstein

According to the composer’s daughter, Nina Bernstein: “The piece follows the liturgy exactly, but it is juxtaposed against frequent interruptions and commentaries by the Celebrant and the congregation, much like a running debate. There is stylistic juxtaposition as well, with the Latin text heard electronically through speakers or sung by the chorus, and the interruptions sung in various popular styles including blues and rock-and-roll. On the narrative level, the piece relates the drama of a Celebrant whose faith is simple and pure at first, but gradually becomes unsustainable under the weight of human misery, corruption, and the trappings of his own power.”

“MASS is an enormous piece. It calls for a large pit orchestra, two choruses plus a children’s choir, a Broadway-sized cast (with ballet company), and a rock band. It may seem ironic that such multitudes are marshaled for a work that celebrates a man’s “Simple Song”: his love and faith in God. But in the end, that simplicity is shown to be all the more powerful because of it.”

Bernstein's MASS - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State University Music, Theatre & Dance - May 13-14, 2011

Bernstein's Mass - in rehearsal at Wright State University

Two years after its premiere, MASS was first performed in Europe (Vienna) by the Yale Symphony Orchestra. In the orchestra pit was young violinist and Yale student, Neal Gittleman.

This groundbreaking collaboration between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State University promises to be the regional performance event of the season, if not the decade.

-SA/DB/DPO Press Release

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton Philharmonic LogoLeonard Bernstein’s MASS – May 13-14 – (8pm)

Location:  The Mead Theatre inside The Schuster Center

WSU TheatreTickets Prices: Range from $9 to $59

Tickets are on sale now through TicketCenterStage.com, or via phone at (888) 228-3630

For more information visit www.DaytonPhilharmonic.com

onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com

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and while you are there, go on over to DMM’s FB page & become a fan of that too!

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The Best of Times

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La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownLa Cage aux Folles

Dayton Playhouse

Win tickets to this delightful show! Read on…

La Cage aux Folles, a collaboration between two of the most recognizable voices in musical theatre (Jerry Herman- Hello Dolly, Mame & Harvey Fierstein- his vocal chords), premiered on Broadway in 1983.  That production garnered nine Tony Award nominations, winning six of those including Best Score, Best Book and the Best Musical.  Since that production, the show has continued to achieve recognition with Tony Award winning revivals in 2004 & 2010 (earning it the distinction as being the only musical to win the Best New Musical along with two trophies for Best Revival).  The terrific show is not often booked by local theatres, however.  I assume that the thought of producing this show (primarily the necessary lavish costumes and opulent sets) would be a hurdle most non-profit community groups would not want to take on.

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownDayton Playhouse has entrusted director Doug Lloyd with bringing the St. Tropez nightclub and it’s cast of female impersonators to life on their stage over the next three weekends.  With the success Lloyd has had on the Playhouse stage in recent years with very popular productions of Urinetown and Hair, I am sure that La Cage aux Folles will be a smash hit.

La Cage aux Folles, book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, is based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret.  La Cage focuses on a couple: Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his romantic partner and star attraction.  Comedic adventures ensue when Georges’s son, Jean-Michel, brings home his fiancée’s ultra-conservative parents to meet them.

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownThe cast of La Cage is anchored by stage veterans Michael Boyd and Richard Croskey.  Boyd, playing Georges, was in the 1989 Playhouse production of La Cage and has been acting and directing every since.  Croskey, last seen in the Playhouse production of Victor/Victoria, has been a professional dancer and choreographer for the last 30+ years.  The Cagelles, the “showgirls” of the La Cage aux Folles, include Playhouse executive director Wade Hamilton,  features playhouse regulars Tony Fende, Ian Manuel, Stacey Ward and Allie Eder and also include some new Playhouse faces Nick Brown, Ty Mentz and Sean Metcalf.  Playing Jean-Michele is the Playhouse’s golden voice Zach King.  The cast is rounded out with Jeff Campbell, Karen Righter, Sarah Parsons, Duante Beddingfield, Mike Frazier, Joe Meyer, Chris Hammond, Ginger Hubbs, Brandon Saldivar, Alexandra Grizinski and Tim Behnken.

“We’re very happy to have this enormous production headed up by Director Doug Lloyd.” says Dayton Playhouse Executive Director Wade Hamilton.  “His vast experience and reputation for producing hit musicals made me breath a little easier as we started this project.”

On the sliding scale of Playhouse musicals, this is a mammoth production.  The Playhouse has assembled an all-star group of designers to bring this show to life.  The set will be designed be Chris Harmon, lights by John Falkenbach and costumes by Kaitlyn Osborn and Karen and Stephanie Dickey.  Leading the 10 piece La Cage orchestra will be Playhouse board member Ron Kindell.  Choreography is from Miami Valley native Stacey Gear.

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. Brown

onStageDayton had some questions for Doug Lloyd about the upcoming opening. Here’s what he had to say:

onStageDayton:   La Cage has recently had a successful return to both Broadway and the West End. What do you think is the appeal of the show?

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownDoug Lloyd:  Well first of all the show is just plain “fun” it has great comedy and wonderful music, but it also a great love Story. I like that fact that it shows what in this age we would call an “alternative” family, has as much love caring and nurturing as a traditional family.

oSD:  Jerry Herman’s score is legendary. Did you feel any allegiance to recreate and honor the show or did you take a fresh approach?

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownDL:  We stayed true to the script, & score. The score we are working from is from the original Broadway production, with the exception of “Anne On My Arm” where they sent the music to the “new” version from the recent revival production with Kelsey Grammer. We did try to make an extra effort to show the true love and connection between Georges, Albin & Jean-Michel as well as show how the employees of La Cage are almost their extended family

oSD:  How have local actors taken to these characters? How have they embraced them? What has been the biggest struggle?

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownDL:  The cast has taken to their characters quite well. We had an extensive character development session, and they all walked away from that with a true feeling for each of their characters. Again we were searching for a true family feel as well as a closeness in the entire community

oSD:  Many people are familiar with this story as it appeared in the film THE BIRDCAGE, what can audiences expect from the musical staging of the same tale?

La Cage aux Folles - Dayton Playhouse - May 13-29, 2011 - Photo by Bruce W. BrownDL:  Many people don’t even realize “Bird Cage” was taken from “La Cage” when I tell them we are doing it they say what’s that. While the story line is  the same, they took many liberties with the La Cage script when writing “Bird Cage”. There are several characters that appear in the movie that aren’t in the stage show, including the role of Sybil, John-Michel’s natural mother that was played by Christine Buransky. Sybil is referred to in La Cage but never appears. Both shows are funny but being a theatre person I’m partial to the La Cage script.

oSD:  You are one of the city’s most active directors. What’s your next project?

The Big Picture at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 2012DL: My next project will be back at my home theatre in Beavercreek and will be the world premiere of a new musical written by local author David Brush and the music was composed by local musician Jim Farely. The show is called “The Big Picture.”  Set in the summer of 1962, it is about college freshman Billy Carson who is spending his first summer home with his mom and best friend. With only a few items to provide clues, Billy sets out with a renewed interest in discovering the father he never knew – B-Movie script writer and war hero, Jack Carson. When old wounds are opened and new loves are discovered, Billy realizes that coming home is more difficult and ultimately more enlightening than he ever imagined and the sleepy town of Pine Springs, Illinois may never be the same.

-SA/DB/DP Press Release

Photos by Bruce W. Brown.

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton PlayhouseLA CAGE AUX FOLLES – May 13-29 – (8pm on Fridays & Saturdays / 2pm on Sundays)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $14 senior / $15 adult

Location:  The Dayton Playhouse
1301 East Siebenthaler Ave
Dayton, OH  45414 (map)

Tickets are on sale now through DP’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 424-8477 Monday-Friday 2:00pm-5:00pm. In Person: Friday 2:00pm-5:00pm

For more information about The Dayton Playhouse visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.org/

Win Free Tickets!

Dayton Playhouse & onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com have teamed up to give you a chance to win tickets to La Cage aux Folles!  We will be giving away up to FOUR pairs of tickets for the second weekend of the show…We’ll select 1 winner (of a set of tickets) for every 10 FB/Twitter Shares! All you need to do is:

  • Share this article on Facebook or Twitter…just click the appropriate button at the top of this page.
  • Fill out the contact form at the bottom of this post.
  • Leave a comment on this post, answering the following question…a revival of one of our more popular ticket contest questions…What’s your favorite Drag Queen Name? (i.e. “Julie Mandrews,” “Anita Cocktail,” etc.)
  • The deadline to enter is Midnight on SATURDAY, May 14th.
  • Winners will be selected randomly from all of the entries.

Error: Contact form not found.

Mauritius at The Dayton Theatre Guild

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Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck - Dayton Theatre Guild - May 13-29, 2011

Geoff Burkman and Amy Brooks

Mauritius

The Dayton Theatre Guild

A world of mystery.  A world of intrigue.  The world of Philately?  We don’t normally equate stamp collecting with conspiracy and danger, but the latest offering by The Dayton Theatre Guild might just make you take a different view of this great American hobby.

The Dayton Theatre Guild presents Mauritius by Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck, the final show of the 2010 – 2011 season.  Performances begin Friday, May 13th and run through Sunday, May 29, 2011.  It is directed by Saul Caplan and produced by Debra Kent.

Publisher Samuel French describe Mauritius as follows:

Theresa Rebeck

Theresa Rebeck

Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother’s death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. One sister tries to collect on the windfall, while the other resists for sentimental reasons. In this gripping tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the sisters’ world, willing to do anything to claim the rare find as their own.

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck - Dayton Theatre Guild - May 13-29, 2011

Amy Brooks & Teresa Connair

“Unsurprisingly for a writer with extensive experience in TV police procedurals like “NYPD Blue” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” one of Rebeck’s strengths is her skill at stitching tension into every exchange. The five characters in Mauritius pair up and face off in shifting configurations, the emotionally fraught edges of their twisty encounters made all the more intriguing by the fact that items as apparently innocuous as postage stamps fuel the friction.” -Variety

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck - Dayton Theatre Guild - May 13-29, 2011

Pat Santucci, Geof Burkman & Alex Carmichal

The cast includes Amy Brooks (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Amadeus, Streetcar Named Desire, and Beyond Therapy at the Dayton Playhouse),  Alex Carmichal (Amy’s View, Bright Ideas, Speaking in Tongues), Geoff Burkman (A Case of Libel, Amy’s View), Teresa Connair (Kimberly Akimbo, Speaking in Tongues and The Spitfire Grill, The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Beavercreek Community Theatre) and Pat Santucci (Amadeus at The Human Race Theatre.)

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck - Dayton Theatre Guild - May 13-29, 2011

Amy Brooks, Pat Santucci & Alex Carmichal

-SA/DTG Press Release

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton Theatre GuildTheresa Rebeck’s MAURITIUS – May 13-29 – (Times Vary:  Click HERE)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $15 senior / $17 adult

Location:  Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio  45410 (MAP)

No one under the age of seven will be admitted.  This show contains adult language.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2010-2011 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

The Billy With The Golden Willy

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An Interview (Of Sorts) With Movie Star, Billy Willy

Billy Willy's "Professional" Headshot

The whole day began oddly. I received a phone call at around 3:00am and a quiet, muffled voice asked if I would like to meet with and interview a world famous comedian/actor/musician/bon vivant. After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I managed to mumble, “Sure.” After a few moments, another voice was transmitted through the phone which introduced itself as Billy Willy. In retrospect, I have to admit that the first voice sounded exactly like the second voice…just without a hand covering it’s mouth. Anyway, Billy Willy said that he loved my work and he was an avid reader of Rolling Stone Magazine. I was unsure of what the connection between myself and Rolling Stone was, but I was far too tired to care. We quickly set up an interview for the next day at Carmen’s on Second St. After hanging up, I rolled over and went back to sleep, quickly forgetting the conversation until I woke up the next morning and looked through my notes.

I arrived at Carmen’s several minutes before the appointed interview time and, after purchasing my lunch and walking into the back dining room, I found myself in the Twilight Zone. Well, the Twilight Zone if it had been written by William S. Burroughs and directed by David Lynch while they were both flying high on massive doses of mescaline. There, towards the back of the room, sat a lone figure, replete in a monstrously huge ten gallon Stetson, a powder blue sequined Western shirt, pegged slacks and cowboy boots…with spurs that jingled and caught the light every time the lone figure fidgeted. Assuming that the figure had to be the World Famous Comedian/Actor/Musician/Bon Vivant Billy Willy, I strode up and introduced myself…the first of many mistakes I would make within the next hour. The second would be asking him any questions, which was the next mistake that I made…

J.T.: How are you today? I’m J.T.
Billy: This doesn’t look like a French Restaurant.

J.T.: Well, I don’t think that it is…
Billy: Oh. Isn’t L’Auberge the best restaurant in town?

J.T.: Yes, but…
Billy: Well, this is a croissant, which is French, so this must be L’Auberge. I would have thought that they would have had a better wine list though…

J.T.: Well, this is…
Billy: Where’s Annie?

J.T.: Who?
Billy: Annie Leibovitz.

J.T.: Annie Leibovitz from Rolling Stone?
Billy: Yes. I thought you guys shot all your celebrity interviews.

J.T.: I don’t…this isn’t…I write for DaytonMostMetro.com…
Billy: I’m not familiar with that column. This isn’t the first time I was in Rolling Stone you know…

J.T.: Really?
Billy: Well, it wasn’t a cover story like this…

J.T.: This isn’t…
Billy: It wasn’t even really a feature article. It was more like an ad I placed to sell a guitar actually. It’s just as well that she wasn’t here. Now I don’t feel so bad about all the money I spent for professional headshots. (Hands me an envelope full of blurry Polaroid pictures)

J.T. : The only bio I could find of you, which was an old MySpace account, said that you were living in California, but that you were moving back to West Virginia. Why is that?
Billy: Well, my movie The Billy With The Dragon Willy in 3D tanked, so I’m back on the road. I don’t understand why it tanked because it was so well received on the festival circuit.

J.T.: Do you mean like at Sundance or the Tribeca Film Festival?
Billy: No. Like Clapper Gap, California’s Yam Festival and Possum Grape, Arkansas’ Jumping Toad Festival. I’m not sure where else it was shown. I think that it was actually a direct to YouTube release. Maybe the film will have a life. I thought that this film would be my big breakthrough.

J.T.: Well, speaking of your movies, it said in your bio that Billy With The Dragon Willy is kind of a sequel to your music CD Crouching Billy, Hidden Willy. I tried to locate a copy, but oddly enough, it was only released in the  Shanxi Province of China.
Billy: Yes, that was my Chinese import. My single from that ranked 386 with a bullet on the Mandarin Hot 400.

J.T: Well, The Billy With The Dragon Willy isn’t your first brush with filmmaking, was it?
Billy: No. I read for the lead role in Brokeback Mountain, but Heath Ledger got it…and look what happened to him! I ended up as an extra and was also a technical adviser for the film. You know that thing where he spit in his hand? That was my idea.

J.T.: Being in the industry in California, you must have been able to meet up and network with a lot of celebrities.
Billy: I’ve met lots of people and met lots of celebrities, but now I’m heading back, across the country on my new tour which I’m going to be launching at the Dayton Funnybone…I’m not sure why I would have crossed half the country to start a national tour, but who knows what these booking agents are thinking. I’m in Dayton now and happy to be here.

J.T.: Well, has your celebrity connections helped you out career-wise?
Billy: Well, I was recently in New York City to try out for the new Folger’s Coffee jingle contest

J.T.: Well, you must have some interesting stories about your travels. Did you make any stop offs on your way to Dayton?
Billy: I did stop off in Las Vegas and did a show there.

J.T.: I thought that Dayton was the first stop on your national tour.
Billy: Well, it was a private party. It was a children’s birthday party.

J.T.: Oh…
Billy: I did get to see some of my friends while I was there though. I know Siegfried and Roy…well, Roy. It turns out that Roy loves traditional mountain music, but Siegfried likes trance. I met them years ago when I was playing a hot Vegas club called The Rusty Trombone.

J.T.: Well, you grew up in this part of the country didn’t you?
Billy: Yes. I grew up in a Pizza Hut in Friendly West Virginia. When my parents moved there, a vacant Pizza Hut was all they could afford because they were doing God’s work. It’s not a bad thing. Like I tell people, we had a big kitchen, lots of parking and a huge dining room. I’m looking forward to moving back to Friendly, West Virginia with my son Woody. The only thing that I am not looking forward to are the UFOs.

J.T.: UFOs?
Billy: Yeah, we’re the Mountain State and that makes us easy targets for UFO abduction.

J.T.: How so?
Billy: Well, we are a little closer to the sky then you all are. I’ve never been abducted myself, which I don’t take personally because, being famous, if the aliens want to know anything about me, they can just Google me. I have had friends that have been abducted and sometimes they’re returned if they are not good enough for the aliens, and that’s sad. They become sad sacks and they feel sort of rejected.

At that point, I excused myself to go to the bathroom and, in the back of my mind, waited for Ashton Kucher to leap out so all of this would make sense. I scooted past the door to the men’s room, stepping up my pace as I reached the sweet relief of the back door that led to the alleyway. If you want to witness for yourself why Billy Willy is billed as “West Virginia’s least favorite country and Western musician, go to the Funnybone on May 12th at 7:30pm. It will only cost you $10 to see one of the most singularly bizarre acts this side of Friendly, West Virginia. Joining Billy on stage will be Michelle Metzner and Lady Jae  Je. You may also be able to pick up one of Billy’s first recordings,  Je m’appelle Billy Willy. Call (937) 429-5233 or go online at www.daytonfunnybone.com to make reservations.

Urban Nights: Proving Downtown Dayton Is Alive and Kicking

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It’s no marketing scheme: Urban Nights really is one of the best nights to be downtown.

Downtown Dayton’s biggest street party returns from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 13. More than 100 venues in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village will host special events, offer discounts and open their doors for an insider’s look. A variety of performers will entertain crowds on stages throughout downtown, and roaming performers also will liven up the event.

Below are some highlights of the May 13 Urban Nights, but there’s more going on than can ever be featured in one article ― and nearly everything is free. Click here to download a map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, a schedule for all the stages, and parking deals. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

Urban Nights gives people a chance to get artsy. Second Street will become a huge canvas when students from Stivers School for the Arts’ painting department create a paint-by-numbers style template on the street. The public then will be able to help Stivers students complete the mural, located in front of the Schuster Performing Arts Center between Main and Ludlow streets. The Paint the Street mural is sponsored by KeyBank and will be created with environmentally friendly liquid chalk that washes away with rainfall.

Juggling duo The Dropbacks will toss and catch with the crowd during Urban Nights.

Juggling duo The Dropbacks will toss and catch with the crowd during Urban Nights.

Also on Second Street, visitors also can create a piece of whimsical public art using jelly beans and have their pictures taken in a free photo booth. At the popular Community Stage, located at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, an eclectic mix of 10-minute performances will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., then anyone can take the mic for open karaoke from 7 to 10 p.m. The Dropbacks, a comedic juggling duo, will toss and catch with the crowd throughout Urban Nights locations. Other hands-on activities will be available at participating venues. For example, the Dayton Metro Library will offer arts-and-crafts activities for children and adults.

Art is the heart of Urban Nights, and all of downtown’s numerous galleries will host exhibit openings and an array of more unusual offerings, such as a 7 to 8:30 p.m. performance by the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra at the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Some Urban Nights newbies are the Dayton Art Institute, which will offer a mixed bag of activities ranging from guided tours of its current exhibition to eye makeovers; Real Art Design Group, featuring jousting with shopping carts as part of “Urban Knights at Urban Nights;” and Atta Girl Art and Gardens Complex, where artists will open their studios for the public to have a look-see. At K12 Gallery for Young People’s new TEJAS studio, art by Rebecca Sargent will be featured.

Vote for your fave Activated Spaces window display during Urban Nights.

Vote for your fave Activated Spaces window display during Urban Nights.

Art also happens in unusual places during Urban Nights. Activated Spaces has worked with local artists to display their work in previously vacant storefronts throughout downtown, and the public can vote for a People’s Choice award during Urban Nights. Practice Yoga will host live music by BJSR, the Dayton International Peace Museum will host an opening reception for an exhibit of Chinese brush painting, and artists will take over the Southern Belle’s second floor, where local crafters will sell their handmade wares. And the Blue Sky Project is hosting an exhibition of Mequitta Ahuja’s works on paper in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower and an exhibit of photography by Sa Schloff, as well as work by Blue Sky participants, in the former Roly Poly space on Courthouse Square. Several downtown housing options will be open for tours, and many of them will feature artists’ work, too.

Downtown retailers also get into the Urban Nights spirit. At Derailed: A Hair Salon, co-owner Austin Burkhart will try to break his record for giving free Mohawks, and Omega Music will host live music throughout the night. Pantorium Cleaners will host a party with special entertainment, and Valeria’s Beauty Center and Day Spa will offer special discounts to celebrate the launch of its new retail store, Bonito.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to start the SCANvenger Hunt.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to start the SCANvenger Hunt.

A fun way to get around Urban Nights is by playing Comtactics’ SCANvenger Hunt. Smart phone users are encouraged to visit participating businesses and search for two-dimensional QR codes. Players scan the codes, answer a trivia question about that business and are entered into drawings for giveaways.

A weekend-long event also will open during Urban Nights. The Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host its sixth annual multimedia arts event, Sideshow VI, at Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., and in the nearby Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth St. This two-block arts experience will feature work by more than 32 artists and performances by 25 musical groups.

Urban Nights guests also will get a sneak peek of another weekend-long event, the FilmDayton Festival, held downtown May 20-22. Multidisciplinary artist and Springfield native Rod Hatfield has mixed a montage of silent films starring Lillian Gish, also a Springfield native. The Show will provide a live soundtrack to the projection on the east side of the Convention Center, which can be viewed from the Jefferson and Fifth street area.

In addition to the arts, cycling has become an important part of Urban Nights. The Life Enrichment Center will roll out its new Yellow Bike program, a free bike sharing program downtown, during Urban Nights. The center is providing brightly painted yellow bikes available free of charge for anyone to ride between downtown destinations. People simply grab a yellow bike, ride it to their

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field for a ride through the action.

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field for a ride through the action.

destination and park it in a bike rack for the next person to use. The center also is asking for donations of helmets in all sizes, which can be dropped off at Courthouse Square. In addition, Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights returns: Cyclists should bring their own bike and meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:30 p.m. for this ride through the Urban Nights action.

The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around.

Urban Nights takes place rain or shine. The event is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from WDTN-TV2, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Budweiser Select, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Clear Channel and Mix 107.7-FM, KeyBank, and the Ohio Arts Council.

Call 937-224-1518 or visit www.downtowndayton.org for more information.

Come and Meet Those Dancing Feet

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42nd Street - Wright State University Theatre - May 15-29, 201142nd Street

Wright State University Theatre

There are few MORE iconic moments from the Broadway canon than watching the entire company of 42ND STREET make its way down a giant staircase in perfect choreographic synergy. It’s perfect golden age Broadway wow-factor – not bad for a show that opened in 1980 (nearly 30 years after  the Golden Age). But it wasn’t just it’s nostalgic structure that launched 42nd STREET into early legend-status.

The score – a healthy mix of tunes from the film soundtrack on which the musical is based – was blended seamlessly with a collection of appropriate songs from the Al Dubin-Harry Warren catalogue. And it’s one hit after another – “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me”, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullabye of Broadway”, “About A Quarter To Nine”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo”. In that respect, 42ND STREET was a jukebox musical before there were jukebox musicals. But unlike many contemporary examples, 42ND STREET did it right – at its core is one hell of a classic story. Consider this: Girl from small town America moves to big dangerous city to fulfill her Broadway dreams. Tough auditions, a love interest, twist of fate that launches girl from the chorus to the leading role, and POW – all the makings of a show to inspire the coldest of critics.

42nd Street - Wright State University Theatre - May 15-29, 2011

42nd STREET Closes Wright State’s Stellar Season

As if that isn’t enough, the current local offering of the show is in the capable hands of director Joe Deer and the Wright State University Department of Theatre. With the current crop of remarkable students at WSU and Mr. Deer at the helm, there is every indication that once again, this will be an event not to be missed. Don’t let happen with 42ND STREET what happened with JEKYLL & HYDE earlier in the year. The buzz was so high, there was not a ticket to be had. Order now.

OSD recently spoke with 42ND STREET cast member TOMMI HARSCH about the upcoming opening. Here’s what she had to say:

onStageDayton: 42ND STREET is notoriously taxing on a dancer. How are dance rehearsals going and are you exhausted every hour of the day these days?

Tommi Harsch

Tommi Harsch

Tommi Harsch: To say the least, my stamina has been in such a building up process thanks to this show… the dance rehearsals have been crazy. Our choreographer- Rick Conant- who was featured in the original 42nd Street cast and who has done several tours as well as choreographed several productions of 42nd Street, has definitely kicked the entire cast’s butts as a whole. We’ve been working so hard! Personally, I’ve been in a constant state of soreness the past 6 weeks because of all the dancing. There were nights I worried my feet were actually going to fall off after we stopped dancing. However, as insane as it’s been, it’s absolutely worth it…it all looks fantastic!

OSD: Joe Deer continues to be one of the finest musical theatre directors in the region (Thoroughly Modern Millie and WSU’s stunning The Light in the Piazza). What’s been you experience working with Joe?

TH: Having Joe as our director for this show has been such a great experience. This is the first WSU Festival production I’ve been cast in, so I would definitely say that for a first show, it’s been an awesome one! He has made sure to instill in us a very solid work ethic and willingness to come focused to rehearsal. The professional attitude he has expected of all of us has absolutely made for such a smooth rehearsal process. Also, having Rick as the co-director has been magnificent! They make a great team.

OSD: There are scenes in 42ND STREET that are pretty iconic. Can audiences expect a wow-factor moment in WSU’s production as well?

TH:  I’m sorry to say that we don’t have any sweet stairs, however, the ballet is certainly going to “wow” audiences! It’s an epic moment in the show, and is sure to impress every seat in the house. I’m guaranteeing it!

OSD: The show originally opened in 1980. I was 5. You weren’t born (sigh). What about this show resonates with a contemporary audience?

42nd Street - Wright State University Theatre - May 15-29, 2011TH: The entire show is based on the idea of working hard to succeed in this field of performance, which is something that we’re all striving for in real life as well. Although the plot is set in 1933, the content is something that every one of us can relate to. We’re all working our butts off to make our way into this business, just like each of the characters in 42nd Street. The losses and the victories that the cast of “Pretty Lady” experiences are heartwrenching and wonderful, because each person watching can easily put themselves in the shoes of everyone on stage. It really hits home for all of us in the cast, and we hope the audience feels the same way while immersed in the story we are going to be telling for the next 3 weeks!


-DB

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

Tickets & Performance Information:

WSU Theatre42ND STREET – May 15-29 – (Times Vary)

Location:  Wright State University’s Festival Playhouse in the Robert & Elaine Stein Auditorium – 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH  45435

Tickets are on sale now through WSU’s Box Office via phone at (937) 775-2500 (Monday through Friday Noon – 5:00 pm).

Silverbacks Saturday at Hara Arena

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The Dayton Silverbacks were off to a banging start with wide receiver Melvin Bryant scoring within the opening minutes of the game for an early 7-0 lead; however, the Indianapolis Enforcers came charging back in an attempt to even the score as both teams put up points early in the first quarter.

In spite of the Enforcers attempts to rally back, it was clear the first half belonged to the Silverbacks. Even after receiving two consecutive penalties that would cost the Silverbacks 30 yards, they were able to tack on six more points off a fumble recovery as Defensive Back Neimiah Simons galloped through the goal line.

The Silverbacks led at the half 39-6

Silverbacks started the second half strong, scoring an early safety by Defensive Lineman, Shawn Stewart. Wide Receiver Marque Jones scored the first touchdown of the half to extend the Silverbacks slaughter 47-6.

Running Back, Ronald Russell, rushed for 39 yards and scored two touchdowns, which was the total number of yards the Silverbacks held the Enforcers to for the evening.

The Enforcers proved to be no match for the Dayton Silverbacks, as they finished with a final score of 75-6.

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