Muse Machine’s Too Darn Hot a joyous spectacle

By Burt Saidel

Muse Machine Magic.  How often have I repeated that phrase?  To the enthralled audience at the Annual Muse Machine Summer Musical, Too Darn Hot, it can’t be repeated often enough.

Year after year, the Muse Machine works its special magic on 70,000 Dayton area school kids.  These young persons are given an introduction to the arts that shapes their lives.  

For some, it is attending an opera, a concert or a ballet. They go not as casual visitors but well prepared to find the key to the passion of the performers and their own level of joy in that art experience.  For others, it is participating in one of the Muse musicals as stage crew, musician or cast member.

So many enthusiastic supporters point with justifiable pride to the Muse alumni who have careers in the performing arts.  I revel in those fine artists but also recognize those who become adults touched with the fire of appreciation for the arts.  These are the real gifts to the world of the Muse Machine.

Each year, for nearly two decades, a genius pair comes to Dayton for six months. Almost invisible to the population, David Düsing and Nat Horne bring a concept for a musical, which is given a half dozen performances in an energy-filled long weekend in January.  They also bring Douglas Merk and Lula Elzy, enthusiastic professionals, to help complete their Herculean task.  This year the show will be the endearing Peter Pan.  It promises the same energy and élan which makes audiences say year after year, “This was the best ever.”

An offshoot of the arduous devotion of the Muse performers’ months of frenetic activity has been the summer musical.  It was a natural development to offer the kids a chance to shine in a review format.  It also allows Muse alumni to return to the scene of their former triumphs.  

The effect on the devoted audience is salubrious. There are doting proud parents but there is also a great cadre of musical theater lovers who just want to see these joyous spectacles.

This summer, joy and spectacle were the very essence of Too Darn Hot, Cole Porter and Friends.  The music, part of the very lives of the older generation, was probably unknown to most of the Muse kids.  After delivering these great songs, with their meaningful verses, they are now as much a part of their lives as their blood corpuscles.

The musical opened with a massed chorus, all in black with smiles as big as dinner plates.  They hit “Another Op’nin, Another Show” from Kiss Me Kate with explosive enthusiasm.  Followed quickly came the droll delights of “Miss Otis Regrets,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and Duke Ellington’s “C Jam Blues.”  Each song was musical and clearly enunciated. The amazing choreography was performed by charming dancers.  Every number bore the indelible marks of Nat and David, well spiced with the ineffable spirit of youth.

A parade of featured songs made the audience forget that these were kids performing on a very hot night in Dayton, Ohio.  Tierra Isaacs sang “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” with torch singer perfection.  A handsome male ensemble gave “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” a rendition worthy of any musical.  This was followed by Sarah elder and her ladies of the ensemble doing a water and suds free “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outa My Hair.”

Lindsey Brown made “Johnny One Note” sparkle while Emily Wandland and Rebecca Ruttle shared the spine-tingling poignancy of “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man.”

A pair of duets nearly stopped the show.  Alumni Ryan Vallo and Oakwood’s Micah Stock did “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” like song and dance veterans. Oakwood’s Jasmine Al-Masri, a natural comedienne, teamed with charming David Sherman in “Pick Yourself Up.”

Micah Stock, a 2007 graduate of Oakwood HS, and Ryan Vallo, a junior at Baldwin Wallace College, ham it up.

Oakwood’s Ruth Reveal  made her “I Hate Men” a verve-filled landmark song-selling. Isaiah Templeton’s sweet tenor led the ensemble in “Heat Wave.” Jacob McGlaun and Dylan McGill were upbeat in “It Don’t Mean a Thing if You Don’t Have That Swing” and “Anything Goes.”  The cutest duet was singing and acting out the songs, “Let’s Mis-behave” and “Let’s Do It,” by the absolutely adorable couple, Jason Slattery and Alexandra Finke.

Interspersed among all of these great songs were appearances by the Young Ensemble.  The singers and dancers, from age five up, invented the adjective “darling” as they cavorted through “Anything You Can Do” and “Friendship.”  

As a special attraction which almost stole the show, The Stivers’ Jazz Orchestra raised the roof with three incredible numbers.  Every player was a soloist and more numbers were needed to show off all their talent.

Throughout the show, dancers emerged from the chorus to perform Nat Horne’s irresistible choreography.  Every one was beautiful, every dance was beautiful and the entire evening was beautiful.  Just wait until January – if you can.

MVSO auditions slated for Sept. 6

The Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra will be holding auditions for its 2007-08 season on Thursday, Sept. 6.

The orchestra is looking primarily for trumpet, trombone and string players, but will audition any interested parties on that date. If a musician is interested, please contact Felicia Bauman at: 937-476-5043.

Dayton Ballet celebrates 80 years

The official school of Dayton Ballet is celebrating 80 years of excellence by opening the Susan S. Kettering Branch of Dayton Ballet School, a new location in Centerville (894 - B South Main Street, Centerville 45458 – Next to NeoLimits).  Classes at all Dayton Ballet School locations begin on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and pre-registrations are now being accepted by contacting the Dayton Ballet School at 223-1542.

A special 80th Birthday Party will be held at the Susan S. Kettering Branch of Dayton Ballet School Friday, Aug. 24, from 4-6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. – 4
p.m. The celebration will include a live remote by Lite 99.9 Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon where there will be giveaway opportunities from Lite 99.9 and Dayton Ballet, including free Graeter’s Ice Cream and the opportunity for advanced dance students from the area to participate in Master Classes taught by prestigious Dayton Ballet School Alumni.

Also enjoy performances by Dayton Ballet II as well as class demonstrations, tours of the new studios, a free Zumba class and new registrants enrolling in a 34-week school year even have the opportunity to receive two free tickets to a 2007 performance of The Nutcracker!

Oakwood pair join Human Race board

Two residents of Oakwood are among nine new members of the 2007-08 board of The Human Race Theatre Company, Dayton’s resident professional theatre company.

Joe Deer of Orchard Drive will hold the Resident Artist seat on the board. Deer is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Wright State and head of WSU’s BFA Musical Theatre program. Deer has directed numerous musicals for The Human Race, most recently the highly regarded productions of Seussical and Big River.

Deb Wenig of Shafor Boulevard is Director of Communications and Resource development for County Corp. Wenig is a long-time supporter of the arts in Dayton. She and her husband, Joseph, served four years on the Associate Board of the Art Institute and chaired last year’s Oktoberfest.

The Human Race will open its 21st season Sept. 20, with a World Premiere production of Snapshots, the latest musical from Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell.

Harp concert at DAI Aug. 16

The Dayton Area Harp Ensemble and the Dayton Area Harp Ensemble Youth will be performing a Summer Delights Concert on Thursday, Aug. 16 at the Dayton Art Institute.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is free. 11 harpists will be accompanied by flute, cello and percussion.

The program will take you through a musical romp from Mozart to Disney to Strauss. The performance is in conjunction with the Dayton Art Institute Twilight Concerts.

Town Hall Theatre offers fall acting classes

Registration for fall quarter acting classes at Town Hall Theatre, 29 N. Main St., Centerville, will be held Saturday, Aug. 18. Classes are offered for children four years old and up, including high school students, are being taught by Education Director, Britanny Hayden Hinkle.

The fall season begins Sept. 10 and last 10 weeks. All classes will be held at the Town Hall Theatre site. Registration for fall classes will take place at Rec West, located at 965 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. on Saturday, Aug. 18 with Open Registration starting at 12:30 p.m. The theatre offers 10 separate programs for aspiring thespians from 4 to teens.

For more information contact Briatanny Hinkle by e-mail at educationdirector@townhalltheatre.org or by phone at 438-7989 or 433-0130 for registration questions.

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August 14, 2007
Volume 16, No. 33

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