DCDC moving out of downtown

By Terry Morris | Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 02:38 PM

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company has announced plans to move its studios and offices from the Metropolitan Arts Center in downtown Dayton to Central State University’s branch campus building at 840 Germantown St.

Executive director Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders said the agreement between the two predominantly black institutions marks a new collaboration with CSU, but does not preclude long-standing discussions about a connection between the 40-year-old dance company and the University of Dayton.

“We can and will form relationships with other universities, colleges and suitable institutions in the future,” she said.

It solidifies DCDC’s withdrawal from downtown. Several weeks ago, the troupe announced that it will not be performing at the Victoria Theatre in the coming season. Its home concerts have been moved to the performing arts center at Centerville High School.

The decision grew out of a new strategic plan and business model that calls for DCDC and a university or college to benefit mutually by exchanging resources and services. It was widely expected outside the company that UD might be that institution, based on previous announcements.

CSU president John W. Garland said CSU is “thrilled to house a nationally recognized dance company of DCDC’s caliber” on its Dayton campus. “This will help us realize our longstanding goal of expanding opportunities for students in the fine and performing arts.”

DCDC artistic director Debbie Blunden-Diggs said the step takes the company and its dance school back “full circle to their origins” in West Dayton at the nearby Linden Center in the Wright-Dunbar district.

DCDC’s departure will leave offices and three dance studios vacant on the second floor of the Metropolitan Arts Center, which is adjacent to the Victoria Theatre and is owned by the Arts Center Foundation. Other tenants on that floor include Culture Works and Cityfolk.

It continues a downsizing trend by Dayton’s three professional dance companies. Earlier this year, the Dayton Ballet moved its administrative offices from a wing on the second floor of the Victoria Theatre building into the small dance studio on the third floor of the same building. Rhythm in Shoes has announced that the 2009-10 season will be its last.

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Aerosmith show postponed

By alarsen | Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 12:41 PM

The Aerosmith show with ZZ Top scheduled to happen tonight — July 1 — at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati has been postponed. The Riverbend site states the following: “AEROSMITH TONIGHT IS POSTPONED! Due to an injury within the band tonight’s concert is postponed! We will announce the rescheduled date asap and tickets will still be vaild at this date.” Click here to see the Riverbend page. It may down the road in Cincinnati but we’re guessing there are plenty of folks in town planning on attending, which is why we bring it to your attention.

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I’m going to Country Concert, come with me

By Kim Margolis | Thursday, June 25, 2009, 02:22 PM

In two weeks, our area will be pleasantly invaded by many top country music stars.

And happily, I’m in charge of reporting about this invasion, which takes places Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12.

If you can still get a ticket for Country Concert ‘09 in Fort Loramie, get one. It’s a four day event featuring all-day concerts from multiple performers. You can buy single or four-day tickets. In one day alone you could see Sugarland, Little Big Town and others perform. On another day, there’s Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley for the price of a one-day ticket.

And it all takes place at a campsite in the country, not in a cramped theater.

But if you can’t go, watch this website for updates and photos every day of the event. I’ll be reporting on the crowd, the traffic, the weather, the performances and even what goes on backstage.

For tickets or more information, go to www.countryconcert.com or call 937-295-3000.

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Theater hall names Martin, Senseman

By Terry Morris | Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 09:42 AM

The Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame has named Gil Martin and Blake Senseman as its 2009 inductees.

Martin, best known locally for his acting at the Dayton Theatre Guild in productions including “Equus,” “Gross Indecency,” “Outward Bound,” “The Beaux Stratagem,” “A Doll’s House” and “The Paris Letter,” has also directed and worked professionally. He has composed more than 400 published pieces of sacred and secular music.

A Dayton resident, he toured nationally in the musical “1776” and the play “Oh, Coward,” and has worked off-Broadway as a designer, arranger and conductor.

Senseman, also a Theatre Guild veteran in several capacities, appeared alongside Martin in the recent production of “Outward Bound,” then designed and built sets for this season’s productions of “The Cashier” and “Fuddy Meers.”

He owns and operates Buggy Whip Antiques in Tipp City, where he lives.

Martin and Senseman will be inducted during the annual DayTony Awards ceremony Aug. 16 at the Dayton Marriott Grande Ballroom. Tickets are $32 for the public event. Call (937) 654-0400. More information about the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame is available at www.daytonys.org.

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Documentary filmmaker to speak at upcoming DAI screening Friday, June 26

By mmoss@coxohio.com | Monday, June 22, 2009, 05:18 PM

If you’ve been to the William Morris glass exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute, you’ve seen excerpts from the only feature-length documentary film ever produced on the famous artist.

Morris, who retired from glass blowing at the age of 49, now divides his time between Hawaii and Seattle and is reportedly learning a new skill — wood carving. The talented artist has a reputation for being very private about both his personal and professional lives.

New York film maker John Andres managed to obtain access to both. The result is “Creative Nature,” a profile of Morris filmed at locations ranging from the famous Pilchuck glass blowing hot shop north of Seattle to Hawaiian waters where Morris swims underwater with sharks. He’s quite an adventurer — rock climbing, paragliding, walking through flowing lava fields.

Andres, who works in New York, will introduce the film to the Miami Valley at a screening Friday evening, June 26, at the DAI and will respond to questions. “His work spoke to me and I was intrigued by the mind that would realize this work,” says Andres, who said over the three year shooting period Morris was “very generous with his time and energy.”

“He’s a very special artist who sees life very differently,” says Andres. “A lot of people think he has a death wish and nothing could be further from the truth. He has this incredible life wish, and part of that is experiencing it on his terms, he needs to be in nature to fuel that part of himself.”

The film opens in a museum gallery where Morris and his team are installing an exhibit that includes many of the pieces that are on display in Dayton. That allows us the fascinating opportunity to see how our own show was put together, and to hear Morris speak about the work.

“I’m not interested in replicating anything,” he explains in the film. “It’s more the impression … I let myself absorb and be absorbed by everything around me.” Later he asks: “What quality does a pine cone have that makes me feel it? Glass has the ability to do that like no other material.”

Famous glass artist Dale Chihuly is interviewed in the film, as are members of Morris’ glass blowing team.

When Morris went paragliding in August of 2006, Andres took his two young daughters and wife along for the filming. “We climbed to a 8,000 ft. peak,” he says, “and Bill and his friends para-glided, soaring over 12,000 feet.”

Now when his girls complain that they can’t do something, he reminds them of that experience. “Three years ago we rock-climbed 8,000 feet,” he tells them, “I think you can handle this little activity.”

HOW TO GO WHAT: “Creative Nature,” a documentary film highlighting the life and work of glass artist William Morris with an introduction and after-film discussion by New York filmmaker John Andres. WHEN: 6:45 p.m. Friday, June 26 WHERE: NCR Renaissance Auditorium, Dayton Art Institute ADMISSION: Tickets available at the door: 90 cents for museum members in honor of the Museum’s 90th Anniversary celebration. Non-members: $5. FOR INFO: www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 223-5277.

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‘Dance Olympics’ picks Centerville troupe

By Terry Morris | Friday, June 19, 2009, 10:53 AM

Centerville-based South Dayton Dance Theatre has been invited to perform at the prestigious 2010 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Miss.

The troupe directed by Gigi Gardner is one of only five pre-professional dance companies chosen to appear at the two-week Olympic-style showcase, which is held just once every four years. Dates will be June 12-27.

Dancers from around the world will vie for gold, silver and bronze medals, cash awards, scholarships and jobs. The international audience will include company directors interested in hiring dancers.

The invitation grew out of several honors SDDT collected at the 2009 Regional Dance America Festival in May in Harrisburg, Pa.

Two company choreographers won high honors. Shannon Bramham’s work “Closure” was selected to represent the Northeast region of RDA at the IBC. Ashley Sass, a former company member who has performed with the Dayton Ballet the past two years, earned the Monticello Award for Best Emerging Choreographer.

Dancer Tara Lynch of Centerville received the Phelps Award for best contemporary dancer.

Founded in 1993, SDDT includes dancers ages 11 to 18. It presents an annual “Nutcracker Ballet” and a spring concert in March. More information about the company is available at www.sddt.org

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Review: Ethel Waters show at Loft

By Terry Morris | Thursday, June 18, 2009, 12:53 AM

“Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow” is the story of a singer and actress who broke new ground for black performers in the 1920s, ’30s and beyond.

While accurate, that description doesn’t come close to summarizing the experience of seeing the one-woman show by Larry Parr at The Loft Theatre, where it’s being produced by The Human Race Theatre.

The real story there is Broadway veteran Danielle Lee Greaves, who plays Ethel through 14 songs and two acts of dialogue. She is fabulous. This may be Ethel’s story, but it’s Greaves’ show.

Director and Dayton native Schele Williams set the course for success the moment she cast her performer. The play with music is an interesting more than compelling condensation of Waters’ amazing life and career — from child bride to nightclub, stage and screen star and, ultimately, Billy Graham gospel crusade soloist.

The pressure is on the performer to fill in the considerable gaps in the story and Greaves was more than up to the challenge on Wednesday, June 17.

Under Williams’ flowing direction, she moved from scene to scene and milestone to milestone in Waters’ life, taking advantage of touchstone songs at every major crossroad.

Nobody should ever need an excuse to sing “Frankie and Johnny,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “This Joint Is Jumpin’,” “Am I Blue?,” “Stormy Weather” and others. But just in case, each one summarizes a moment in Waters’ humble beginnings, struggles, coming of age, blossoming career, brief romance, lost love, career doldrums and eventual acceptance of singing for God.

Greaves delivers many of them so well that the story becomes her while she is singing. One thing missing after the show is a soundtrack of her performance to pianist Scot Woolley’s accompaniment.

Waters’ faith is an undercurrent in the script, although not a heavy-handed one. Set designer Tamara L. Honesty evokes it in scenery and illuminated images that sometimes give the impression of stained glass.

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” named for a spiritual that provided recurring comfort for Waters, isn’t really a one-woman show. The Human Race production also required the efforts of Parr, numerous songwriters, director Williams, costume designer Lowell Mathwich, lighting designer John Rensel and others.

But it is Greaves’ show. She gives a great performance. That’s the main reason to see it.

“Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On the Sparrow” will continue through June 28 at 126 N. Main St. Tickets are $33 at (937) 228-3630, (888) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.

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