Community

‘In a Small Texas Town.’

From the moment Jacob Sams (Ty) begins to let us in on the ‘small Texas Town’ and all its craziness, you are immersed in a silly, well-paced production of Del Shore’s much beloved ‘Sordid Lives.’ The story, which revolves around an accidental death of the elderly family matriarch, is filled with characters you cannot help but love, no matter how messed up they are! One rule of thumb with ‘Sordid Lives’….if the cast is having fun, YOU are having fun! This cast was LOVING IT!

Jenna Gomes‘ (Bitsy Mae) guitar solos break-up the madness effortlessly. Faith Whitt’s (Sissy) character is instantly relatable. Rick Flynn‘s (G.W.) frustration is palpable. Diane Strohm‘s (Dr. Eve) outrageous behavior is hysterical. AND keep your eye on Becky Milligan Howard‘s Juanita….it’s stealth,  but she’s a riot! The entire cast really needs a shout-out….of the ten audience members in our party, everyone had a favorite character!

The production, at the Beavercreek Community Theater, has it all. The lighting, the sound…the set…STELLAR!

I was lucky enough to interview the show’s director Doug Lloyd. It went something like this!

JS: So Doug…why ‘Sordid Lives?’

DL: I submitted “SORDID LIVES” because it’s a crazy funny show, with a large number of fun roles for actors to have fun with, but at the same time, has a message of acceptance and love, While the family seems to constantly be screaming at each other, they still love each other and are there for each other in time of need.

JS: And, for big ‘Sordid Lives’ fans, the connection to Brother Boy (brought to life on-screen by the late Leslie Jordan) is essential!

DL: Yes. It’s the kind of show I think we need right now, one that shows acceptance and does it with a sense of humor.

Brother Boy (Matthew Smith) and His Therapist! (Strohm)

Lloyd is right about this. With Drag Queen bans, and Anti-LGBTQ sentiment on the rise, this show handles it in stride….and with this cast, with a lot of heart!

JS: What would you say people can expect from this show?

DL: An evening of quality theatre, full of laughs. You may leave with your face a bit sore from smiling and laughing, but you will leave feeling good and knowing you had a great time.

I know my group of 10 did. We all chatted at intermission about how impressed we were (as we ate cookies and drank punch! Perfect!) The show was engaging…and we were anxious for the second act!

JS: I don’t know if people know about your theater experience. Would you mind sharing?

DL: Sure! I have been involved with theatre since I was in the first grade, close to sixty years ago.  I have been involved with BCT for close to 25 years. I am president of BCT and have been on stage or in the director’s chair for countless productions at BCT and other theatre’s in the Dayton area, including Dayton Theatre Guild, Dayton Playhouse, and Town Hall Theatre. I have received numerous ‘Daytony’ Awards and was inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall Of Fame in 2011.  Besides theatre, I am retired from the City Of Beavercreek, am a potter that works out of and serves on the board at John Bryan Community Pottery in Yellow Springs. I also do stained glass, and am the proud poppa of three rescue dogs. One of which was recently onstage at BCT.

JS: You are BUSY, SIR! So much to be proud of. But what is it about directing that you enjoy?

Fun Cast!

Are you a ‘Super Trouper?’ Come, sing-along!

I was so excited to catch up with Marc Driscoll of Dayton‘s fabulous Gay Men’s Chorus! Word is out about their upcoming sing-along with ‘Mamma Mia‘ the movie. I had to get more information, so we met….and it went something like this!

JS: Marc! So good to see you. So, tell me about your upcoming benefit!

MD: The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus is having a Benefit….A Mamma Mia Sing Along which  will be held Sunday, April 16 at the Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg (33 South Main Street Miamisburg). Doors will open at 5:00 with the show starting around 6:00. Tickets are $20 a piece and can be purchased through the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus website: daytongaymenschorus.org

JS: That sounds fun, and fantastic! A Sing-Along can mean different things to different people. Elaborate on what folks can expect!

MD: Oh sure…The night will feature a limited song selection from the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus leading into the main event. Audience members will view the 2008 film Mamma Mia featuring the hit songs of ABBA. During the movie, lyrics to songs will appear on screen and audience members will be encouraged to sing along with the film. In addition to this there will be “call out” moments during the film to get members engaged in the story.

JS: The great thing is, we all are familiar with ABBA‘s music, so it surely will have people at ease to sing! You boys always have prizes and such at your events. What about this time around?

MD: Before the show and during the intermission audience members will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for gift baskets featuring donations from several local vendors. Audience members can also purchase alcoholic beverages, soda, and snacks similar to any experience at the movie theatre.

JS: Now look sir, the alcohol will really put people at ease to sing! Good thinking!

MD: YES!!! The idea for the night is for folks to let go and have fun singing along with the movie. It is an opportunity to raise money for the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, but also to have fun with members of the chorus in the audience.

JS: I was in the chorus for one day…literally…but I realized right away, you gentlemen are pros at this. Which brings me to how smart you are to provide the lyrics….

MD: Oh yeah, for sure. The will appear on screen as the movie is playing… This is similar to the traditional “bouncing ball” or karaoke experience.

JS: And I know it’s a benefit for the chorus. How will the proceeds be used?

One of Dayton’s Treasures!

MD: Money raised will be used for things like purchasing the rights to music, securing performance venues, salaries for support staff etc.

JS: Venues like the Plaza Theater!

MD:  Exactly! The Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg has been beautifully restored and will be an awesome venue to get to experience ABBA.

JS: Should people dress in a certain way, or do their hair ABBA style?

MD: People are encouraged to wear resort wear or tropical wear to help get in the mood of the film.

JS: Super fun! Before I let you go, what else does the DGMC have coming up…I know you have a devoted fan base, for sure!

20 Years of the DGMC…and more to come!

MD: This year we have been celebrating the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus’ 20th season, and we have been practicing since January to prepare for our Spring show, “Still Gay After All These Years.” This will be held on June 17th at the Dayton Masonic Center at 8:00 PM.  This show will be a review of some of our favorite songs throughout the twenty years. In addition, this show is part of our DGMC Gives Back theme for the year. This means that the June concert will be 100% free!

JS: What a treasure we have in Dayton with you guys!! Congrats on 20 years! I know the sing-along will be a hit! THANK YOU for meeting with me!

MD: THANK YOU!

About the DGMC: Founded in 2003, DGMC is committed to continually reaching for excellence in choral music, forging active community partnerships and educating others about the value of diversity. We offer a broad range of musical styles from serious to the sublime—heavy to hysterical. Our members have a dedication to the choral arts and the desire to become part of a singing, gay-affirming community—and, no, you don’t have to be gay to join us!

WSU’s ‘On the Town’ is Old Broadway Elevated!

Dayton Theater has had a great winter. Name a theater company in the area and you will likely find a good review for their most recent endeavor. Most of those shows were based on contemporary, more recent scripts, Titles that are ‘of the now.’ So imagine how refreshing it was to see a good old-fashioned Broadway Show at the Gem of Musical Theater…WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY.

From Sets to Songs, ‘On the Town’ delivers!

I’m not going to lie…when I suggested ‘On The Town‘ to friends and family, there were questions….’You Mean Like The Movie on TMC?’ or  ‘On the Town...the sailor story…wasn’t that Sinatra?’ or ‘Wright State is Doing ‘On the Town?’ That’s an undertaking!’ I assured them, you can trust Joe Deer (Director) and the entire team! This team includes Music Director F. Wade Russo, who leads a 19 piece ‘on-stage’ orchestra! That alone is old-school magic. The show is around 80 years old…yes, 80 years old…but this production is alive and vibrant with choreography by Broadway’s Josh Walden. The dances are at times intricate and mesmerizing, and then, whimsical and bouncy! These kids can DANCE, and Walden obviously trusted their talents! They cover it all. From Ballet to 40’s Swing, the cast captures it.

‘But is it fun?‘ You ask? ‘The Movie was fun!‘ And it is. The sets harken to post war NYC and are a great blend of silly (T-Rex) and sound (the subway scenes.) Joe Deer’s direction allows the actors freedom to be goofy in those tongue-in-cheek moments, and reels in back in when the show returns to romance. It must be said that WSU’s version takes on the entire Leonard Bernstein score…..WOW! WOW! WOW! That’s an undertaking alright! You will recognize many of the songs, and may leave with ‘New York, New York- A Helluva town…the Bronx is up but the Battery’s down…’ repeating in your head.

These kids can dance!

It’s hard to highlight the cast individually as they all take on their role with spirit and enthusiasm. Tanner Gleeson (Gabey) is hard not to watch with his expressive presence and spot-on dancing.  Amy VanDyke (Ivy) pairs well with him as the love interest. Their Coney Island scene garnered applause mid-dance…it was well executed.  The other lead couples Ben Ohnemus (Chip) & Trinity Wolff (Hildy) and John Cuozzo (Ozzie) & Melissa Mataresse (Claire) keep the show moving forward with laughs and lunacy! Kevin Lausche‘s role as Pitkin was an obvious audience favorite as well. Just as enthusiastic are the musicians who handled the extensive score splendidly.

Look, big musicals are not easy to execute. There are so many moving parts, and each domino has to fall just right! And for this cast and crew it worked…beautifully. As I was leaving the theater, a patron said ‘Those students must be exhausted. They never stopped!’ My response…’Let’s hope they never do!’  Whatever magic happened that day, from a script now 8 decades old, with students in their twenties, is what theater should do! Leave you wondering….’How did they do that?’ Bravo WSU….for two and half hours, we were ‘Carried Away!’

Wright State is still the Gem of Musical Theater!

Performances take place April 6 at 7 p.m.; April 7 and 8 at 8 p.m.; April 8 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for senior citizens and $15 for students.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Creative Arts Center box office weekdays between noon and 4 p.m.

The show takes place in the Festival Playhouse.