It was a ‘double-billing’ at Wright State University last Thursday evening.  It was Stuart McDowell’s birthday and it was opening night of “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof”. Stuart is Chair. of the Performing Arts Department and always comes on the stage for his pre-performance remarks.  “Let’s lead the audience in a ‘Happy Birthday chorus when he appears…” said several. “He’d die!” declared his wife, Gloria.  “I guess we can’t cause that!” decided the ‘singers’.

Stuart announced the selections for the ’07-’08 season: ‘The Skin of our Teeth’;  “West Side Story”; ‘The Fantasticks’; ‘The Country Wife’; and ‘Lady Be Good”.  So get your season tickets now!

“Cat On A …” is considered the best play written by the best American playwright…it won Williams a Pulitzer…” continued Stuart.

Opening scene was a long, one-sided, bedroom diatribe between ‘Birck’ played by Ryan Imhoff and ‘Margaret’ (Elizabeth Taylor’s role) played by Shelby Garrett.  ‘Big Daddy’ was carried by Jason Bobb. The program listed Understudies and Andrew Mitakides was the back-up for ‘Brick’ and ‘Dr. Baugh’.  Andrew is the son of Jane & Dr. John Mitakides.  Remember Jane ran against Congressman Turner is last year’s election.

It was a full-house. Sherry Mills was there with several other gals. Tom Maher was in the audience and so was Professor Romaguerra of U.D.

When picking up dry-cleaning at Gene’s Valet the clerks asked: “Did you know that Martha White has retired?  December 29th was her last day…she’s been here for thirty years!” Every regular customer of Gene’s knows Martha…she always greets patrons when they enter – and how she recognizes anyone through the steam and heat waves is a mystery. Sue Ellis added: “Martha’s been back three times since she retired…says she misses all her Oakwood and Kettering customers.”  When asked how long she’d been at Gene’s her answer was five years. Joy Teagarden said it was seven years for her and that Sherry Weaver had them all beat with eighteen years on the job.

“Years ago I brought in my show gear before the Dayton Horse Show to get everything cleaned and the conversation turned to the Hunter classes and how many ‘jumpers’ would be entered etc.  When I picked up my  livery each piece – coat, vest, and breeches – they all had blue ribbons pinned in the linings!”  That’s why Gene’s has such a devoted clientele.    

Nancy Heck Gibson, Oakwood H.S. ’67  was in town this past weekend because her friend, and fellow Intl. Wolf Ctr. Board member, owner of a wolf pack in New York state, and internationally acclaimed concert pianist Helene Grimaud was the soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The two friends were able to spend most of Saturday together doing a personal tour of the Cincy Zoo, and having a three hour lunch. Saturday evening Nancy had tickets for her parents and brother, John, for Helene’s performance of Brahms Concerto #1.   In the lobby of the elegant, 19th century Music Hall the Daytonians spotted an old friend, Dr. John Wulsin -  a fellow foxhunter and Whipper-In for Camargo.  “In the 1940’s when I came down to hunt with Camargo your father was MFH,”  (and President of Baldwin Piano)”.  Nancy spotted Oakwood-ite, Charles Comer.

Following the concert Nancy’s group was invited to TWO receptions…one backstage for Patrons, and the other in the elegant third floor reception hall where Conductor Paavo Jarvi spoke of future plans for Music Hall.  The Dayton group had a wonderful reunion with Katherine Hosea Hilker,  founding member of the Miami Valley Hunt, founder of the Cheetah program at the Cincy Zoo, and owner of a large tract adjacent to the Zoo’s cheetah preserve in Namibia.  Zoo Director, Thane Maynard enjoyed meeting Helene.

By midnight the Orchestra party left for dinner at Nicole’s in the Over-the-Rhine area.  There were sixteen  - Helene, Conductor Paavo and his wife, the Director and Asst. of the Cincy Art Museum, the four Oakwoodites, Symphony Board members, etc.  The group began leaving Nicole’s by two AM and the group was back in Dayton by three AM!

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