Home > Blogs > Arts and Entertainment > Archives > 2010 > January
January 2010
Human Race play has up, down sides
The press of current events can make the 2003 invasion of Iraq seem like a long time ago. The dialogue-rich 2006 David Hare play “The Vertical Hour,” which deals in part with opposing views of that conflict, delivers a reminder of the debate that quickly surrounded it.
The Human Race Theatre Company will present it in the Eichelberger Loft Series Friday, Jan. 29, through Feb. 14.
Artistic director Marsha Hanna is staging the drama, which features Bruce Cromer as Oliver, an English physician who is opposed to the war, and Kathy McCafferty as Nadia, a former war correspondent-turned Yale professor who supports the occupation.
The play stirs the pot with several other conflicts — male vs. female, generation vs. generation, British vs. American and public life vs. private life, with a touch of romantic rivalry sprinkled in as well.
The cast also includes Todd Lawson as Philip, who is Nadia’s boyfriend and Oliver’s son; plus Jasmine Batchelor and Trevor Day. Set design is by Mark Halpin, costumes by Laine June Marr and lighting by John Rensel.
English writer Hare is prolific. He has penned more than two dozen plays, but “The Vertical Hour” may be the first local production of one of them.
His other works include: “Plenty” (1978), “A Map of the World” (’82), “Racing Demon” (’90), “Skylight” (’95), “Amy’s View” (’97), “The Blue Room,” “The Judas Kiss” and “Via Dolorosa” (all 1998), and “Gethsemane” (’08).
The title “The Vertical Hour” refers to a phrase in combat medicine that describes the moment when intervention can help someone who has been injured.
Tickets are $15.50-$36 at (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com. The Loft is located at 126 N. Main St.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
TweetBuckets and Tap Shoes at the Victoria
The combination of musicians, percussionists and rhythm tap dancers is far from a new one to Dayton audiences who have watched the hometown company Rhythm in Shoes over the past 20 years.
“Buckets and Tap Shoes,” a touring ensemble with a different take on that mix, will perform for one night only Friday, Jan. 29, in the Victoria Theatre Association’s Universal 1 Variety Series. Time is 7:30 p.m. Location is the Victoria Theatre, First and Main streets.
Their “instruments,” some of which hearken back to a previous touring attraction, “Stomp,” include five-gallon buckets, metal cans, barrels and a variety of found objects.
The street-smart act was launched in 2004 at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, where it collected honors in 2004 and 2005 before taking to the road.
Tickets are $31-$50, with some discounts. Call (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Dance, Music - Popular, Theater
TweetLebanon Theatre to renovate, occupy former Kroger store
The Lebanon Theatre Company has announced plans to renovate and move into a former Kroger store at 10 S. Mechanic St. in the Warren County seat’s downtown.
Located for 10 years on on the fourth floor of The Shoe Factory Antique Mall, 120 E. South St., the theater group needed to find a new home when it was unable to negotiate a lease extension.
Advantages of the former grocery store, most recently a Goodwill outlet, include its street-level parking and adequate parking space.
Now basically an open space, the building will require considerable work to turn it into a theater that meets building codes. Fundraising has begun. The group has canceled its Feb. 5-14 production of “Crimes of the Heart” at the Shoe.
The group hopes to add children’s programming once the move and renovation are completed.
Items that have accumulated over the theater’s past 15 years will be sold Feb. 6 during a Benefit Moving Auction at the Shoe.
For more information about the move, or to donate to the theater’s future, go to www.LTCplays.com or call (513) 228-0932.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Arts News, Theater
TweetBest new plays to win cash
Submissions are being sought for a first-time 10-minute play contest in Dayton.
The Hope Arts Center, 500 Hickory St., will host the fest, to be called Short and Sweet, March 25 and 26. Scripts will be accepted through March 1.
Up to eight finalists will be selected for performances to be cast and organized by the writers.
As decided by a panel of judges, the top three plays will be awarded prizes of $125, $100 and $75.
Located in Dayton’s South Park Historic District, the Hope Arts Center is the former Hope Lutheran Church.
For more information about the festival, contact Phyllis Tonne at mzrehab@yahoo.com or Bill Tudor at barefoot_portage@hotmail.com.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Literary arts, Theater
TweetMore shows added to Fraze lineup
The satirical comedy troupe the Capitol Steps will perform at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering on Thursday, July 1.
The group has a humorous take on the headlines of the day and perform songs, skits and parodies. They’re considered ‘equal opportunity offenders’ of all political parties.
All seats for the performance are general admission and are $20.
The Fraze also announced three $2 Tuesday shows including The Fries Band on July 13; Stranger with Uncle Rico on Aug. 10; and The Devonshires on Aug. 31.
For now, the Fraze ticket office is open only on Saturdays, starting Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. Hours will extend after the majority of shows are announced.
Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster 800-745-3000.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Music - Popular
TweetDayton DJs appear on national TV show
The DJs from 107.7’s Mix Morning Show are going to appear on a network television show thanks to southwestern Ohio listeners.
Jeff Stevens, Kristi Leigh and Dave Alexander will have walk-on roles on the CW Network’s new show, ‘Life Unexpected’ because listeners from their station made the most calls in a eight-day contest where listeners cast votes for their local DJs.
One of the settings in ‘Life Unexpected’ is a radio station.
Listeners from the Dayton market were more enthusiastic and numerous in their voting than those in 46 other markets, including big markets like San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, said Jeff Stevens operations director for Clear Channel stations in the region.
“In the end the battle was between us and WCOL in Columbus for the most votes,” he said. “We were just blown away by the support of our listeners for this contest.
The DJs will head to Vancouver, where the show is filmed, on Wednesday, Jan. 27. They don’t know yet when their episode will air. Also, one listener will go with them and another will win $1,000 from Delta Vacations as part of the contest.
‘Life Unexpected’ airs on the CW on Mondays at 9 p.m.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Television
TweetMona Lisa still smiling
Critics, historians, collectors and auction houses generally get the call on which which art works are the best.
It’s probably no surprise to the average person, but the “Mona Lisa” still rules, according to a more general system of ranking.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s creation tops the list of the top 10 oil paintings featured in the media in the last decade.
Compiled by overstockart.com, it was measured according to appearances in print publications, on television shows and in films. Data was gathered with “media aggregators and public Google search statistics.”
The rest of the top 10 included:
“Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer,” by Gustav Klimt, which was sold for a record $135 million in 2006.
“Girl with Pearl Earring,” Johannes Vermeer.
“Starry Night,” by Vincent van Gogh, which was the best-selling oil painting of the last decade.
“Le Rêve (The Dream in French),” by Pablo Picasso.
Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress, by Frida Kahlo.
“The Café Terrace,” by Vincent van Gogh.
“Untitled,” by Mark Rothko.
“The Scream,” by Edvard Munch.
“Poppies near Vetheuil,” by Claude Monet.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Fine Arts, Visual arts
TweetCityfolk director leaving
John Harris, who stabilized and has steered the folk arts-presenting organization Cityfolk through hard times over seven years, is stepping down as executive director.
“But I’ll be here until July 5, through the annual Cityfolk Festival,” Harris, 47, said Tuesday, Jan. 19.
“The first reason for my decision is that my wife, Natalie, has been hired as executive director of the Louisville (Ky.) Coalition for the Homeless. Also, my dad died in September. My mom, who lives in Kentucky, is alone now. We want to be closer to her.”
Harris came to Dayton from the Whitesburg, Ky.,-based folk arts cooperative Appalshop.
Cityfolk planned to begin an immediate national search in hopes of hiring his successor by the start of the 2010 festival, which will be July 2-4 in downtown Dayton.
“John has helped us maintain and enhance Cityfolk’s ability to offer the very best in ethnic and cultural traditions in some very challenging economic times,” board chairman Jerry Brunswick said. “His desire to stay through the festival means we will maintain continuity of leadership in a critical time of planning, execution and fund raising.”
Harris said he is proud of new programs, including Culture Builds Community, Cityfolk has implemented during his tenure. “We have also brought a lot of great music here to share cultural traditions with the people of the community. At the end of the day, that’s the main reason we’re here.”
For more information about Cityfolk, call (937) 223-3655 or go to www.cityfolk.org.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Arts News
TweetLocal singer shares stage with Emmy winner
Singer and songwriter David Poe, who grew up in Dayton, is far more than an apparition despite playing a ghost in the new musical “Whisper House.”
He is one of the featured performers in the show, which stars Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham.
The live stage premiere is under way through Feb. 21 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
Set during World War II in a New England lighthouse, the show’s songs are all performed by the ghosts — Holly Brook and Poe.
A graduate of Miami University, Poe is the son of longtime Sinclair Community College president David Ponitz and community arts advocate Doris Ponitz. He has recorded several albums.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Music - Popular, Theater
TweetVince Gill coming to the Fraze
Country singer Vince Gill is returning to the Fraze Pavilion this summer.
Gill, whose career spans three decades, and features many hits, will perform at the Fraze on Friday, June 4. He performed at the Fraze in 2003.
He is poised to release his latest album, ‘Love Songs,’ on Jan. 26.
‘Love Songs’ is a compilation of his favorite songs from 1991 to 2006.
During his career, 11 of Gill’s album have placed in Country’s Top 6. He has had smash hits like “If I Didn’t Have You In My World,” “I Still Believe in You,” “The Heart Won’t Life” and “Nothing Like A Woman. ”
He’s sold 22 million albums, won 19 Grammy Awards and 18 Country Music Awards. He’s also hosted the CMAs a record 12 times.
Tickets are $52 and $32 and go on sale Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m.
For more information, go to Fraze.com, Ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Music - Country
TweetMiami U. takes opera prize
A Miami University production of Benjamin Britten’s “Paul Bunyan” has captured second place in the 2010 National Opera Association competition in Atlanta, Ga.
Miami Opera finished only behind the University of Memphis production of “Hansel and Gretel” in Category III of the juried competition for small professional opera companies and opera training programs, including universities.
Judges chose winners based on DVD submissions.
The 2008 production was directed by Eric Friedman, conducted by Ben Smolder and produced by Mari Opatz-Muni.
For more information about opera at Miami University, go to http://arts.muohio.edu/music/ensembles/student-ensembles/miami-university-opera.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Music - Classical
TweetHuman Race, WSU to co-produce major play
The Human Race Theatre Company and Wright State University Theatre will join forces for the regional premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “August: Osage County.”
The 2008 play by Tracy Letts, which also took the Tony Award and has been dubbed play of the decade by Time magazine, will open both organizations’ 2010-11 subscription seasons.
The Sept. 23-Oct. 10 production in WSU’s 349-seat theater in the campus Creative Arts Center will represent the first major collaboration between Dayton’s resident professional theater company and its preeminent actor training program.
Human Race artistic director Marsha Hanna will direct the play about about three generations of a dysfunctional Oklahoma family brought together by the patriarch’s disappearance.
Cast and crew will be a mixture of professionals and students. WSU Theatre chair W. Stuart McDowell expects more than 100 students to audition. The university’s Center for Excellence in Collaborative Education, Leadership and Innovation in the Arts will sponsor the production.
For more information, call The Human Race at (937) 461-3823 or WSU Theatre at (937) 775-3072.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Arts News, Theater
TweetFraze poised to list concerts
Snow may dust the seats and the edge of the stage at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering now, but the 2010 summer concert season there will begin taking shape soon.
Karen Durham, general manager for the Miami Valley’s premier outdoor entertainment facility, said the first scheduled acts and dates will be announced beginning in mid-January, with tickets to go on sale at the Fraze box office on Saturdays beginning Jan. 30.
In May, Fraze will launch a new publication, “Fraze Spotlight: The Magazine,” with concert features, photographs, profiles of performers and a calendar of events. It will be inserted in the Dayton Daily News and distributed throughout the area.
The 2010 season is expected to include big-name artists, local and regional performers, free all-day festivals and a series of affordable concerts. Sponsors are the Kettering Medical Center, MidFirst Community Credit Union, Time Warner Cable Business Class, and Pepsi Americas.
For more information about Fraze Pavilion, a 4,300-seat facility located on Lincoln Park Boulevard that is owned and operated by the City of Kettering, go to www.fraze.com. For concert updates, see www.daytondailynews.com.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Arts News, Music - Popular
Tweet
