Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame inductees announced
Actor/director/designer John Falkenbach, actor/educator Michael Kenwood Lippert, and actor/designer/producer Douglas Merk have been named the 2018 Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame inductees.
Established in 2001, the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to theater arts in Dayton or have made a significant impact on Dayton’s theater community. The Hall of Fame was specifically created to honor local theater artists and arts patrons whose lifelong participation, innovation, and creativity have influenced the Dayton arts culture.
An alumnus of Ohio Northern University and former president of the DayTonys, Falkenbach has been a part of the Miami Valley arts scene for over 40 years. Currently serving as treasurer of Beavercreek Community Theatre (BCT), he is also a current state board member and past president of the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA), the Ohio Representative to the American Association of Community Theatres, and has twice received OCTA’s Presidential Award. He considers BCT his “home” theater, but has worked with nearly every community theater in the area as an actor, director, stage manager, or designer of lights, sound, sets or costumes. For his accomplished work over the years, he has received two Murphy Awards from Dayton Theatre Guild, five Blackburn Awards from the Dayton Playhouse, and 36 DayTony Awards.
“It is truly an honor to be inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame,” Falkenbach said. “To be elected to this membership of theater artists is truly a special and treasured recognition.”
A graduate of Bowling Green State University and a founding resident artist of the Human Race Theatre Company, Lippert has memorably appeared in such Human Race productions as “Red,” “The Drawer Boy,” “Race,” “The Sunset Limited,” “True West,” “The Elephant Man” and “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” A director and residency artist for the Muse Machine Preschool and Elementary Program, he has also been instrumental in facilitating theater arts integrations, residencies, and workshops for schools in the Dayton area and beyond. In 2017-2018, he particularly conducted residencies for over 5,000 students and almost 300 teachers in 40 schools.
“I am truly blessed to have enjoyed a full career of performing and teaching theater,” said Lippert, who received the 2011 Ohio Governor’s Award for the Arts in the category of Arts Education. “My sincere thanks to everyone who has invited me to the creative table. It is truly an honor to be inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame.”
An award-winning actor and designer, Merk, longtime producer of the Muse Machine’s annual winter musical and periodic summer concerts, routinely interacts with 150 to 300 students each year. Over his 22 years with Muse, he has served as a mentor for thousands of students, instilling and molding the organization’s pre-professional pedigree. Many students influenced by Merk’s leadership and guidance have appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and London’s West End as well as film and television. He is also executive producer of four Muse recordings and was honored with the Prism Award for his accomplishments with Muse.
“The induction is such a lovely surprise,” Merk said. “Working with Muse Machine and many other theaters and organizations in this community is always challenging in the best ways. Creating alongside young people and other collaborators is a process of infectious joy and to do this at all — let alone be recognized — is a wonderful thing.”
This year’s induction ceremony will be held in conjunction with the annual DayTony Awards on Saturday, July 28 at Sinclair Community College. Attendees will have a dinner or event-only option along with early bird pricing. The event is open to the public. To make a reservation, visit www.ticketleap.com. Click on “Events” and enter “DayTony Gala.” Tickets will go on sale July 1. For more information about the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame, visit www.daytonys.org.
DAYTON PLAYHOUSE SELECTS ‘MAMMA MIA’
Attention, dancing queens! The megahit, ABBA-driven, Tony Award-nominated musical “Mamma Mia!” will close the Dayton Playhouse’s 60th anniversary season May 3-19, under the direction of Richard Lee Waldeck with choreography by Annette Looper. The organization was previously unable to announce the title due to contract negotiations. It will be the first community theater production of “Mamma Mia!” in the greater Dayton area. Auditions will be held March 20 and 21, at the Playhouse.
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENTS
La Comedia Dinner Theatre’s 2019 season will consist of “Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver” ( Jan. 17-Feb. 17), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Feb. 21-April 14), Disney’s “Newsies” (April 18-June 9), “Shrek – The Musical” ( June 20-Aug. 11), “On Golden Pond” (Aug. 15-Sept. 8), the local premiere of the 1970s jukebox musical/film spoof “Disaster!” (Sept. 12-Nov. 3), and “Elf – The Musical” (Nov. 7-Dec. 31).
Contact this contributing writer at rflorence2@gmail.com.