Dayton Playhouse essence of real theatre

By Burt Saidel

The traditional image of the Impresario of some decades ago was a mustachioed gentleman wearing jodhpurs, a chesterfield coat and carrying a megaphone. That likeness is entirely passé but an impresario is an impresario.

We have several high-energy arts entrepreneurs in the Dayton area. Perhaps the youngest and most energetic is Adam Leigh of The Dayton Playhouse. He became Executive Director of the Playhouse a few years ago. He inherited a failing operation based in a lovely small theater building at the Wegerzyn Cultural Complex on Siebenthaler Avenue.

The Playhouse is approaching its 50th birthday in two years. It began life at Longfellow School, next in the old State Theater and then in a bowling alley quasi-theater on East Third Street. When the present cultural complex at Wegerzyn was constructed, it became a ward of the city.

Changes in city funding created a crisis for the ardent supporters of the Playhouse. Special efforts of the Board of Directors and the advent of Adam Leigh brought on a flurry of changes making The Dayton Playhouse a seething bed of theater activity.

The traditional offerings, their main stage productions, are a mix of musicals and plays. This coming season, Pippin, Noises Off, Funny Girl and the musical version of Little Women will be the musical fare. Amadeus and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf are dramatic challenges.

The Playhouse has a cadre of regular actors, many of whom have had professional training and experience. Such veterans as Roger Watson, Renee Reed, Joan Harrah, Becky Lamb and Alex Carmichael are often in pivotal roles. They are joined by a rich supply of stage-struck community members who are seen at the Playhouse and other area amateur theaters.

The plays are directed by many of the areas finest professionals. This coming season, Tony Dallas will be directing a dramatic tour de force, Sophocles: The Oedipus Cycle.

The three Greek tragedies will be given in one weekend as part of yet another innovative series at the Playhouse. That series, The Flip Side, is one of the most imaginative concepts added by the zesty creativity of Adam and his cohorts.

Plays, often with decidedly adult content, are selected from those which would never be seen in Dayton’s regular theaters. They are presented, with no reservations, no tickets, and a voluntary offering from the audience. The goal is to change the way the Miami Valley experiences live theater. And, from my personal experiences, it certainly does.

Last season, I shared my thoughts on the zany but cogent Musical of Musicals. This season, besides the incredible feat of producing and presenting the Oedipus Cycle on three successive nights in April, four other plays will be performed. You will recognize Hair, the 1960’s revolutionary rock musical. The other plays will be, I’m certain, just as exciting.

Not content with the experimental nature of the Flip Side, Adam has concocted an additional challenge, Studio 24. This is novel and, on first hearing, impossible. The cast and director will be given a script and have 24 hours, only 24 straight hours, to put it on stage. The audience is free to attend, even at 3 a.m., as they prepare for an 8 p.m. curtain that very day. This is theater history in an outré sense. This is something not to be missed for a theater lover.

If you think that I’ve described the entire program of The Dayton Playhouse, I’m just over halfway there. There is an active children’s program which includes a 2 week camp for ages 8-12, August 6-17. For information on that program, contact Amy Brown at 424-8477.

Since 1991, Dayton Playhouse has hosted FutureFest. This festival of new plays is culled from over 250 scripts which are submitted by authors from the entire country. Six plays are selected and given fully staged productions or staged readings.

FutureFest outgrew the Dayton Playhouse theatre and is now resident at Sinclair’s Blair Hall. Having a weekend pass, experiencing all six plays and hearing the adjudicators make their learned and enlightening comments to author, cast and director, is an artistic thrill. This summer’s dates are July 27-29. The weekend becomes a total saturation, a complete theatrical event and great fun.

There is always a winner. There is always controversy as everyone has strong opinions on their favorites. There is more real theater activity on Siebenthaler Avenue than there is on a block of Broadway showing revived musicals and glitzy new spectaculars. Broadway can be fun, but not the essence of real theatre.

Street saxophonist Frank Dixon

Dayton has yet another special theater feature. We have a professional street musician. Frank Dixon and his saxophone are resident at the Schuster and the Victoria. While I never pause long enough to really listen to his music, I do catch his spirit and easy manner.

Frank is a native Daytonian, a Dunbar HS grad. He’s a classically trained flautist having begun music naturally, using his innate talents. In addition, he is a painter, gardener, tailor and chef. He revels in bringing music to people, even passers-by.

His venues are primarily the Schuster and the Victoria. He enjoys playing for people who appreciate the arts. While he plays music with groups in The Oregon District, The Greene and other venues, it is his desire to give back by bringing his music to others who appreciate it.

When asked about the negatives of his calling, he lists the elements, racial remarks and indifference. Nevertheless, he spreads his joy in small but important bites to the crowds entering Dayton’s major cultural venues. In his way, he knows that he is helping – I believe that he is.

Dayton Ballet enrolling for Summer Intensive

The official school of Dayton Ballet is now enrolling students for its Summer Intensive programs. Summer Intensive classes will be held July 23-August 17 and include Ballet III (12 yrs. and older with 4 years of training) and Ballet IV/Advanced (14 yrs. and older with 5 years of training) in ballet technique, pointe/variations, character, jazz, modern, fitness, choreography, acting, hip hop and dance history. An in-studio performance will be held on Friday, Aug. 17 for Levels III and IV/Advanced attending weeks three and four. Also available are evening classes for adults and young children aged 3 to 8.

Courses will be taught by the Dayton Ballet School faculty as well as Dayton Ballet company dancers Paul Gilliam and Sharon Lancaster along with the special guest faculty of Dermot Burke and Karen Russo. Classes are available at both the Downtown Dayton (Victoria Theatre, 140 N. Main Street) and Kettering (Rosewood Arts Center, 2655 Olson Drive) locations.

For further information, contact Carol Jean Heller, Dayton Ballet School Director, by phone or e-mail at 937/ 223-1542 or cjheller@- daytonballet.org or visit Dayton Ballet’s website at www.daytonballet.org.

CINE Golden Eagle awarded to maker of NPS Film

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park has announced that Aperture Films, Ltd. has won the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award for its film, On Great White Wings. Produced for Dayton Aviation Heritage, On Great White Wings is a High Definition feature documentary that tells the compelling story of the Wright Brothers and their invaluable accomplishments in the history of aviation. Narrated by Dayton native, Martin Sheen, the film utilizes computer graphics and re-enactments to illustrate the Wrights’ historic race for flight in 1904-05. They have created breathtaking aerial sequences, historical re-enactments, live-action footage of Wright replica airplanes and state-of-the-art digital effects.

Over 300 judges from CINE viewed and evaluated hundreds of entries. Entries are judged using standards of overall excellence, evaluating such criteria as writing, sound, editing, creativity, visuals, insights and the extent to which the film meets its stated goals and communicates with its intended audiences.

On Great White Wings can be viewed at Dayton Aviation Heritage’s two visitor centers: the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center (16 S. Williams Street) and Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center (2380 Memorial Road). During the summer months, both facilities are open daily 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Ultra Cool Films series at Victoria Theatre

The Michelob Ultra Cool Films series brings the golden age of cinema to life at the Victoria Theatre during July and August when it opens on July 13 with Arsenic and Old Lace, starring Cary Grant. It will run through July 15.

Upcoming movie classics include: Gone with the Wind, July 20 – 22; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, July 27 – 29; Hitchcock Weekend (Suspicion, Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder), August 3 – 5; Planet of the Apes, August 10 – 12; The Sound of Music, August 17 – 19; Monty Python and The Holy Grail, August 24 – 26.

Films are shown at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays in the comfort of the air-conditioned Victoria Theatre. Guests may enjoy free popcorn and soda in the lobby beginning one hour prior to showtime, an NCR Mighty Wurlitzer organ concert beginning 30 minutes prior to showtime, and a classic cartoon just before the movie.

Michelob Ultra Cool Films series passbooks are $24 each and contain 10 movie tickets that may be used in any combination for the 2007 series. Passbooks are on sale now through Ticket Center Stage, and may be purchased at the Schuster Center box office in downtown Dayton or by calling (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Passbooks may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Individual tickets, priced at $4.75 each, are available at the Victoria Theatre box office beginning two hours prior to each film.

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July 10, 2007
Volume 16, No. 28

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A listing of visual arts, music, theatre, and other events in Dayton and beyond.