LOCAL THEATER
CHECK OUT OUR FALL ARTS PREVIEW
World premieres, established classics, promising partnerships, a brand new venue and more frame the 2018-19 theater season.
On professional stages, the Victoria Theatre Association provides a strong balance of new musicals (the energetic “School of Rock” and “On Your Feet!” in particular) and returning favorites (“Les Misérables,” “Chicago,” “The Book of Mormon”). Most significantly, the organization’s highly anticipated PNC Arts Annex, a new performance and learning center located across the street from the Schuster Center, is set to open in late October just in time for Playground Theatre’s local premiere of “The Feast.” At the Human Race Theatre Company, currently offering a terrific world premiere of “Banned from Baseball,” expect laughs and a few stings in its local premiere of “An Act of God” and a rousing rock score in its regional premiere of “Lizzie,” an intriguing tale of infamous murderer Lizzie Borden.
At collegiate theaters, Sinclair Community College has the timely luxury of opening with “Be More Chill,” one of the hottest new musicals of 2018 slated to transfer from off-Broadway to Broadway in February. University of Dayton, in a collaborative mindset this season, brings the life of Nina Simone to the forefront with “Eunice: Star Shine and Clay” (co-presented with Oral Funk Poetry Productions) and will also shed light on gun violence with the relevant drama “The Library” (co-presented with aforementioned Playground Theatre). Cedarville University specifically offers the rarely staged yet engaging and heartfelt musical “The Spitfire Grill.” Before Wright State University celebrates the 80th anniversary of Bertolt Brecht’s legendary antiwar drama “Mother Courage and Her Children,” an embraceable array of Gershwin tunes will be heard as “Crazy for You” returns to the Festival Playhouse for the first time in 20 years.
In addition to Muse Machine’s expectably joyful “Mamma Mia!,” be sure to take note of community theater offerings such as Dayton Playhouse’s 60th anniversary season opener “My Fair Lady,” Troy Civic Theatre’s thought-provoking pop/rock musical “Next to Normal,” Beavercreek Community Theatre’s edgy musical “Fun Home,” Dayton Theatre Guild’s Ohio premiere of medical drama“The Man Who Killed the Cure,” and Young at Heart Players’ local premiere of British comedy “Calendar Girls.”
THEATER PROFESSIONAL Victoria Theatre Association
Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton, and Victoria Theatre, First and Main Streets, Dayton
(937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
facebook.com/VictoriaTheatreAssociation twitter.com/VictoriaTheatre pinterest.com/vtadayton The Victoria Theatre Association, which operates the Victoria Theatre, Schuster Center and Loft Theatre, presents more than 300 professional performances annually for all ages, most notably the popular Broadway Series which brings national tours to town direct from New York.
Premier Health Partners Broadway Series
Oct. 2-7: “School of Rock – The Musical”
Jan. 15-20, 2019: “Finding Neverland”
Feb. 12-17, 2019: “The King and I”
March 5-10, 2019: “On Your Feet!”
April 2-7, 2019: “Les Misérables”
Jun. 25-30, 2019: “Waitress”
Projects Unlimited Star Attractions
Oct. 23-25: “The Wizard of Oz”
Nov. 16-17: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical”
Dec. 2: Straight No Chaser Feb. 1-2, 2019: “Chicago” May 21-26, 2019: “The Book of Mormon”
National Geographic Live! Series
Feb. 3-4, 2019: “Kobie Boykins: Exploring Mars”
March 10-11, 2019: “Mark Synnott: Life on the Vertical”
April 14-15, 2019: “Florian Schulz: Into the Arctic Kingdom”
Morris Furniture Co. Inc. Family Series
Nov. 10: “The Ugly Duckling”
Nov. 18: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites”
Feb. 2, 2019: “The Phantom Tollbooth”
Feb. 23, 2019: “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”
March 23, 2019: “Diary of a Woman, A Spider & A Fly”
April 27-28, 2019: “The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System”
Human Race Theatre Company
Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton
(937) 228-3630 or humanracetheatre.org
facebook.com/HumanRaceTheatre
twitter.com/HRTC_Dayton YouTube.com/HumanRaceTheatre
The Human Race Theatre Company is Dayton’s only professional regional theatre and has particularly championed many new plays and musicals. Universal storytelling is a key component in its programming as the organization attempts to produce shows that touches emotions and reminds audiences “why we are here.”
Sept. 6-23: “Banned from Baseball”
Nov. 1-18: “An Act of God” Dec. 14-16: “Americana Christmas”
Feb. 28-March 17, 2019: “Around the World in 80 Days”
April 25-May 12, 2019: “Sylvia”
June 13-30, 2019: “Lizzie”
Dare to Defy Productions
Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main. St, Dayton
PNC Arts Annex, Second and Ludlow Streets, Dayton
(937) 228-3630 or d2defy. com
facebook.com/Dare-to-DefyProductions-LLC
Dare to Defy Productions thrives from an ambitious mindset balancing recognizable and relatively unknown contemporary musicals.
Sept. 14-15: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” Nov. 9-17: “Side Show” Jan. 18-26, 2019: “Assassins”
March 8-10, 2019: “The Wizard of Oz”
March 15-23, 2019: “Violet” May 3-4, 2019: “Annie”
La Comedia Dinner Theatre
765 W. Central Ave., Springboro
(937) 746-4554 or lacomedia.com
facebook.com/lacomediadinnertheatre
La Comedia Dinner Theatre has established a long tradition of quality productions featuring New York and local talent. Food choices include certain dishes representing the “flavor” of the show.
Aug. 23-Sept. 23: “Driving Miss Daisy”
Sept. 27-Oct. 28: “Clue: The Musical”
Oct. 8-15: “Click, Clack, Boo!”
Nov. 1-Dec. 31: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
Jan. 17-Feb. 17, 2019: “Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver”
Feb. 21-April 14, 2019: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
April 18-Jun. 9, 2019: “Newsies”
April 30-May 11, 2019: “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley”
June 20-Aug. 11, 2019: “Shrek – The Musical”
Playground Theatre
PNC Arts Annex, Second and Ludlow Streets, Dayton
theplaygroundtheatre.org facebook.com/playgroundDYT
Playground Theatre tells compelling stories primarily reflecting the relatable emotions and struggles of millennials. The troupe stages fresh new works from some of today’s most established and promising playwrights. Oct. 25-28: “The Feast” Jan. 10-13, 2019: “Assistance”
April 25-28, 2019: “The Library”
Springfield Arts Council
Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield
(937) 328-3874 or springfieldartscouncil.org
facebook.com/SpringfieldArtsCouncil twitter@ArtsSpringfield Springfield Arts Council delivers national tours and concerts annually while also promoting community-building through the performing arts.
Oct. 20: Dolly, Patsy, Loretta: Legendary Ladies of Country Music
Nov. 16: MJ Live: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert
Dec. 15: “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol”
Jan. 25, 2019: We Banjo 3 Feb. 23, 2019: Britbeat: A Multimedia Concert Journey Through Beatles Music History
March 30, 2019: Sons of Serendip
May 3, 2019: “The Sound of Music”
Clark State Performing Arts Center Series
Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield
(937) 328-3874 or pac.clarkstate.edu/events
Sept. 29: “Jersey Boys” Oct. 6: “Beethoven’s Emperor Launches 75th” Oct. 10: “The Illusionists” Oct. 12: Nobunto
Oct. 20: Legendary Ladies of Country Music
Oct. 26: The Choir of Man Nov. 16: MJ Live: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Nov. 17: Thompson Square Dec. 2: “Home for the Holiday Pops”
Dec. 15: “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol”
Jan. 12, 2019: Liebermann Cello Concerto
Jan. 17, 2019: “Rock of Ages”
Jan. 23, 2019: Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab
Jan. 25, 2019: We Banjo 3 Feb. 9, 2019: Disney in Concert: Around the World
Feb. 14, 2019: “Frankenstein” (Aquila Theatre of London)
Feb. 16, 2019: CeCe Winans Feb. 23, 2019: Britbeat: A Multimedia Concert Journey Through Beatles Music History
March 8, 2019: “Cirque Mechanics: 42 FT”
March 16, 2019: Vienna Boys Choir
March 30, 219: Sons of Serendip
April 6, 2019: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2
May 3, 2019: “The Sound of Music”
May 18, 2019: Beethoven’s Ninth – Ode to Joy
Zoot Theatre Company
(937) 223-5277 or zoottheatrecompany.org
facebook.com/ZootTheatreCompany instagram.com/zoottheatre twitter.com/zoottheatre The puppet/mask-driven Zoot Theatre Company, cofounded by D. Tristan Cupp, is a forward-thinking, collaborative-infused production and design troupe elevating the imaginative magic of theater with inventive finesse.
Sept. 1-Oct. 28: Ohio Renaissance Festival
COLLEGIATE Cedarville University
251 N. Main St., Stevens Student Center, Cedarville
(937) 766-7700 or cedarville.edu/ticketinfo
facebook.com/CedarvilleUniversityTheatre
Cedarville University’s theater component adheres to programming that educates and entertains with a spiritual focus while exploring deeper themes.
Oct. 4-14: “Fools” Jan. 31-Feb. 10, 2019: “Appointment with Death”
April 4-14, 2019: “The Spitfire Grill”
Clark State Community College
Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield
(937) 328-3874 or pac.clarkstate.edu/theatre_arts.php
facebook.com/clarkstatetheatre Clark State Community College’s theater arts program presents varied works from Shakespeare to Tony Kushner as well as original scripts.
Nov. 2-11: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ”
Spring 2019: TBA
Miami University
119 Center for Performing Arts, Oxford
(513) 529-3200 or http:// arts.muohio.edu
facebook.com/MiamiOHTheatre
twitter.com/MiamiOHTheatre
youtube.com/user/MiamiOHCCA/videos
Miami University’s theater program prides itself on diverse, thought-provoking works that can “inspire a world of possibilities.”
Oct. 18-21: “Echoes of Miami”
Nov. 14-18: “Good Kids” March 6-10, 2019: “The Revolutionists”
April 25-May 5, 2019: “Bat Boy – The Musical”
Sinclair Community College
444 W. Third St. Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2, Dayton
(937) 512-2808 or sinclair. edu/tickets
facebook.com/Sinclair.Theatre twitter.com/sinclairtheatre Sinclair Community College’s theater department continues to balance wellknown titles with a few unknown works waiting to be discovered.
Oct. 5-13: “Be More Chill” Dec. 13-16: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Feb. 8-16, 2019: “Silent Sky”
April 5-13, 2019: “All Childish Things”
University of Dayton
300 College Park, Dayton (937) 229-2545 udayton.edu/artssciences/ academics/theatre/productions
facebook.com/Universityof-Dayton-Theatre-Program
University of Dayton’s theater program embraces a collaborative, educational and community-driven perspective with an emphasis on devised projects and original works.
Sept. 27: “Improv All-Stars Night for Brighter Connections Theatre”
Nov. 1-3: “Babes in Toyland”
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: “Eunice: Star Shine and Clay”
April 25-28, 2019: “The Library”
Wright State University
3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, Creative Arts Center
(937) 775-2500 or wright. edu/tdmp
facebook.com/Wright-StateUniversity-Dept-of-TheatreDance-Motion-Pictures twitter.com/WrightState Wright State University’s professional-caliber musical theatre department is one of the best programs of its kind in the Midwest. Attention to the classics is also paramount in its programming.
Sept. 27-Oct. 7: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
Nov. 1-18: “Crazy for You” Nov. 30-Dec. 9: “The Liar” Feb. 7-17, 2019: “Mother Courage and Her Children”
Feb. 22-March 3, 2019: “If/ Then”
March 21-April 7, 2019: “A Little Night Music”
Actor’s Theatre of Fairborn
23 E. Main St., Fairborn (937) 878-3353 facebook.com/Actors-Theatre-Fairborn
Established in 1921, Actor’s Theatre is on the rebound having taken a lengthy hiatus in recent years. Last season’s roster, the troupe’s first in nearly a decade, included John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.”
Oct. 5-28: “Dracula’s Passion”
Nov. 30-Dec. 8: “Jean Shepherd’s A Christmas Story”
Feb. 22-March 3, 2019: “Arsenic and Old Lace”
April 27-May 5, 2019: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
June 21-30, 2019: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Beavercreek Community Theatre
3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek
(937) 429-4737 or bctheatre.org
facebook.com/BeavercreekCommunityTheatre
Beavercreek Community Theatre continues to divide its programming between traditional and edgier tastes. Some of its best shows in recent years have stemmed from its alternative Edge of the Creek presentations.
Oct. 26-Nov. 4: “Fun Home”
Nov. 30-Dec. 9: “Babes in Toyland”
Jan. 25-Feb. 3, 2019: “A Little Piece of Heaven”
March 1-10, 2019: “Gooney Bird Greene”
May 3-12, 2019: “The Legend of Georgia McBride”
June 21-30, 2019: “Cabaret”
Brookville Community Theatre
770 Arlington Road, Brookville
(937) 833-6790 or brookvillecommunitytheatre.com
facebook.com/BrookvilleCommunity-Theatre
Brookville Community Theatre does intimate and large-scale shows equally well while appealing to fans
of such diverse voices as Oscar Wilde, Stephen Sondheim and Neil Simon.
Nov. 8-18: “A Nice Family Christmas”
Feb. 21-March 3, 2019: “InLaws, Outlaws and Other People (That Should Be Shot)”
April 25-May 5, 2019: “Rumors”
Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg
Memorial Building, 540 E. Park Ave., Miamisburg
(937) 867-0353 or cpamburg.com facebook.com/cpamburg CPAM is dedicated to promoting to area youth the appreciation of the performing arts through education, practice and performance.
Oct. 27-Nov. 4: “Bye Bye Birdie”
Spring 2019: TBA
Dayton Playhouse
1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton
(937) 424-8477 or daytonplayhouse.org
facebook.com/DaytonPlayhouse
For 60 years, the Dayton Playhouse has dedicated itself to entertaining theatergoers of all ages with classic and contemporary works. Sept. 14-30: “My Fair Lady” Nov. 2-11: “Murder on the Nile”
Jan. 18-Feb. 3, 2019: “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
March 8-17, 2019: “To Kill a Mockingbird”
May 3-19, 2019: “Mamma Mia!”
Dayton Theatre Guild
430 Wayne Ave., Dayton (937) 278-5993 or daytontheatreguild.org
facebook.com/Dayton-Theatre-Guild
twitter.com/DaytnTheatreGld
youtube.com/DaytonTheatreGuild
For over 70 years the Dayton Theatre Guild seeks to produce eclectic plays that surprise and provoke in order to provide cultural growth.
Oct. 5-21: “This Random World”
Nov. 16-25: “The Man Who Killed the Cure”
Jan. 11-27, 2019: “The Shadow Box”
March 1-17, 2019: “Our Mother’s Brief Affair”
April 19-May 5, 2019: “Nice Girl”
June 7-23, 2019: “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”
INNOVAtheatre
innovatheatre.com facebook.com/INNOVAtheatre
Dedicated to innovation through inclusion, INNOVAtheatre specifically embraces diversity in its quest to provide unique theatrical experiences.
2019 TBA: “Bare: A Pop Opera” and “Prelude to a Kiss”
Lebanon Theatre Company
10 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon (513) 228-0932 or ltcplays. com facebook.com/LTCPlays Lebanon Theatre Company aspires to produce works “evoking emotion and wonder” for theatergoers.
Sept. 21-30: “Boeing Boeing”
Oct. 28: “The Jungle Book” Nov. 3: “Raise Your Voices” Nov. 30-Dec. 9: “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play”
Jan. 18-19, 2019: “Musical Monte Carlo Night”
Feb. 3, 2019: “Cyrano de Bergerac”
March 15-24, 2019: “Is He Dead?”
April 13, 2019: “5 Little Monkeys”
May 17-26, 2019: “She Loves Me”
Middletown Lyric Theatre
1530 Central Ave., Middletown
(513) 425-7140 or middletownlyric.org
facebook.com/middletownlyrictheatre
youtube.com/middletownlyrictheatre
Middletown Lyric Theatre produces theater that seeks to “inspire, nurture, challenge, educate, and empower.”
Sept. 14-22: “Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook”
Oct. 20: “Murder Mystery Theatre”
Nov. 3: “Raise Your Voices: A Soulful Celebration”
Nov. 9-17: “Other Desert Cities”
Dec. 14-22: “Miracle on 34th Street: A Radio Musical Play”
Jan. 25-26, 2019: “The Christians”
March 1-9, 2019: “Baby” April 5-13, 2019: “Fix Me, Jesus”
June 7-15, 2019: “The Loman Family Picnic”
Town Hall Theatre
27 N. Main St., Centerville (937) 433-8957 or townhalltheatre.org facebook.com/THT Town Hall Theatre provides an array of familiar titles including junior versions of many musical hits.
Sept. 14-30: “Into the Woods, Jr.”
Oct. 26-28: “Wizard of Oz: The Deleted Scenes”
Nov. 30-Dec. 16: “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”
Jan. 18-Feb. 3, 2019: “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook”
Feb. 15-17, 2019: “The Snow White Variety Show”
March 8-24, 2019: “The Neverending Story”
May 3-19, 2019: “Bye Bye Birdie”
May 31-June 2, 2019: “Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother”
Troy Civic Theatre
Barn in the Park, Adams St., Troy
(937) 339-7700 or troycivictheatre.com
facebook.com/troycivictheatre
For over 50 years Troy Civic Theatre has offered familyfriendly entertainment. Classic comedies are always standard fare in particular.
Sept. 21-30: “Next to Normal”
Nov. 2-11: “Chapatti” March 1-10, 2019: “The Sunshine Boys”
May 3-12, 2019: “Picnic”
Undercroft Players
Basement of First Lutheran Church, 138 W. First St., Dayton
http://undercroftplayers. weebly.com
Undercroft Players strives to give theatergoers quality productions at an affordable price.
Nov. 15-18: “A Little Piece of Heaven”
Feb. 28-March 3, 2019: “Aesop’s Fables”
June 20-23, 2019: “Enchanted April”
Xenia Area Community Theater
45 E. Second St., Xenia (937) 372-0516 or xeniaact. org
facebook.com/XeniaAreaCommunityTheater
Xenia Area Community Theater’s programming embraces comedies and dramas as well as mysteries and original works.
Oct. 26-Nov. 4: “Frankenstein”
Dec. 7-16: “Believe” Feb. 8-17, 2019: “Blithe Spirit”
April 5-14, 2019: “Fahrenheit 451”
May 23-June 2, 2019: “Tartuffe” and “Twelfth Night”
Yellow Springs Theater Company
First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs ystheater.org facebook.com/ystcohio Yellow Springs Theater Company, devoted to new and classic works, believes theater can “enrich the soul, challenge the mind, and expand the heart of the diverse community in which it serves.”
Oct. 26-Nov. 3: “W3 –Three Humorous Tales of Horror” Young at Heart Players Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton
(937) 654-0400 or www. youngatheartplayers.com
Young at Heart Players is primarily devoted to themes such as connection and ageism in an attempt to enhance communication, creativity and socialization in the lives of senior adults.
Nov. 16-25: “Calendar Girls” May 31-June 9, 2019: TBA
OTHER Muse Machine
Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.
(937) 222-6873 or musemachine.com
facebook.com/musemachine
twitter.com/themusemachine
youtube.com/MuseMachineDayton
The arts education organization continues to enrich the local arts scene with impressive performances from a wide range of students across numerous schools throughout the Miami Valley.
Jan. 10-13, 2019: “Mamma Mia!”