‘A Christmas Story’ to hit the stage as a musical
If you loved the classic movie, you have two great opportunities to see the iconic story of Ralphie Parker re-interpreted in the weeks ahead. Who can forget Ralphie’s holiday dream gift — an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle? Or the leg lamp, pink bunny PJ’s or the tripledog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole?
“A Christmas Story, The Musical” will be on stage at the Aronoff Center from Dec. 5-10. It’s penned by the songwriting team behind the Tony Awardwinning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” and the Academy Award-winning film “La La Land.”
Tickets for the musical can be purchased at CincinnatiArts.org by calling (513) 621.2787 . The theater is located at 650 Walnut St.
The Victoria Theatre Association will also be presenting a play inspired by the film at the Victoria Theatre Dec. 12-17. It’s being produced by our own Human Race Theatre Company and we’ll be chatting with members of the cast and the director in the coming weeks. Tickets start at $30 and are available now at ticketcenterstage.com.
Award-winning production designer will be at Wright State
Hannah Beachler, the Wright State film grad who’s made a name for herself in the motion-picture industry as an awardwinning production designer, will return to her alma mater on Monday, Dec. 4, to speak about her successful career.
She earned the 2017 Art Directors Guild Award for Production Design for Beyoncé’s music video “Lemonade” and worked on “Moonlight,” last year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture. She’s also involved with the upcoming Marvel movie, “Black Panther.”
The event is free to the public, and will take place at 3 p.m. in room CA280 of the Creative Arts Center on the Wright State University campus. A discussion with Beachler, moderated by W. Stuart McDowell, will take place afterwards, followed by a meet and greet.
As part of the event Beachler will give – on “indefinite loan” — the award she won as Production Designer for “Lemonade” to the Wright State Motion Pictures program, from which she received her BFA in 2008. Ms. Beachler is giving this award in honor of her Wright State classmate, Carole Trevino of Wilberforce, who was killed in an automobile accident while working on a film near Shreveport, La., in 2007.
Free entertainment at the The Eichelberger Forum
Here’s a great way to spend your lunch hour and be treated to a free musical performance. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays at the downtown Dayton Metro Library, you can enjoy “On Stage @ The Eichelberger Forum.”
Upcoming programs include: Guitarist Eric Loy on Dec. 8; The Corndrinkers, an old-time country string band featuring twin fiddles, banjo, guitar and bass, on Dec. 15; pianist Trey Stone, formerly music director at Chicago’s famed Second City, on Dec. 22; and D J Basim and his funk music on Dec. 29. Basim is the host of WYSO’s “Behind the Groove.” No reservations are necessary for this special series.
EDGE concert today
If you’re looking for something to do today — Sunday, Dec. 3 —consider attending the EDGE concert at the Eichelberger Forum. Sponsored by the Dayton Performing Arts Association, the free series aims at hosting Unconventional Performances in Unconventional Places.
The goal of EDGE is to bring the performing arts into the Dayton community, introducing the art forms to new audiences in more intimate and approachable settings. Today’s performance is from 3-4 p.m. and features a string quartet consisting of violinists Kara Camfield and Scott Moore, violist Leslie Dragan and cellist Ellen Nettleton.
Rosewood announces call for entries
Artists living within a 40-mile radius of Dayton are invited to submit entries for Rosewood Gallery’s 28th annual Works on Paper juried exhibition. Entries must be original works in any media (2-D or 3-D) on or of paper, completed within the last four years and not exceeding 40 inches in width. Work previously exhibited at Rosewood Gallery is not eligible.
Artists may drop off their actual work at Rosewood Gallery from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, and from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2. A non-refundable entry fee of $20 for up to three works must accompany each entry.
The exhibition will run from Jan. 15 through Feb. 23, 2018, with an artist reception from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. United Art and Education Awards totaling $1,100 will be presented. Both exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.
Juror Maria Seda-Reeder has worked with Cincinnati-area cultural institutions for nearly 15 years, and has written critically about art for various locally and nationally based publications since 2009.
The Gallery is in the Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Drive in Kettering. For more information, call (937) 296-0294 or visit playkettering.org/gallery.
“Waitress” comes to Cincy
One of Broadway’s biggest hits will come to our area when “Waitress” plays the Aronoff Center for a two-week engagement Jan. 9-21.
If you saw Adrienne Shelly’s charming film, you’re familiar with the story about a waitress and expert pie maker who enters a baking contest in a nearby county. The musical was created by an allfemale team with music and lyrics by six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus.Tickets are on sale online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at (513) 621ARTS.