Shows you shouldn’t miss in September
From familiar favorites to local premieres, here are shows to keep in mind throughout September.
Dearly Departed
Sept. 6-16, Brookville Community Theatre
Southern shenanigans are in full effect throughout this chaotic comedy about a Bible Belt family trying to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at the theater, 770 Arlington Road, Brookville. $17. Call Brookville Flower Shop at (937) 833-3531 or visit brookvillecommunitytheatre.com.
Banned from Baseball
Sept. 6-23, Loft Theatre Human Race Theatre Company delivers the world premiere of Patricia O’Hara’s drama concerning Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti’s decision to ban Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose from the league. 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings; 7 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings; 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. $19.50$55. Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit humanracetheatre.org.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Sept. 14-15, Victoria Theatre Dare to Defy Productions presents Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s musical adaptation of the 1996 Disney film based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Songs include “The Bells of Notre Dame,” “Someday” and “Out There.” 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. Dayton. $22.50-$54.50. Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit ticketcenterstage.com
Much Ado About Nothing
Sept. 14-16, South Park Green
Shakespeare in South Park presents its 10th season production of this classic romantic comedy accented with hilarious deception and frivolity. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at 601 Hickory St., Dayton. Patrons are advised to bring lawn chair and/or blanket and bug spray. Free admission but donations are encouraged. Rain location: Hope Lutheran Church, 501 Hickory St., Dayton.
My Fair Lady
Sept. 14-30, Dayton Playhouse
Dayton Playhouse’s 60th anniversary season opens with Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical. Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle’s transformation under the guidance of stuffy linguist Henry Higgins features “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays at the Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton. $18-$20. Call (937) 424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.com.
Tonic Sol Fa
Sept. 17, Centerville High School
The Miami Valley Community Concert Association presents this groundbreaking, multimillion-selling, Emmy-winning a cappella ensemble from Minnesota. 7:30 p.m. Monday at Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St, Centerville. Tickets are $30 for adults and $5 for students. Call (937) 8538292 or mvcconcert.org.
Body Talk
Sept. 20, University of Dayton
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company revives its well-received 2016 storytelling concert emphasizing the role of the Griot in the African-American experience. A Griot is a traveling poet, musician and storyteller of oral history in West Africa. This multimedia production will be accented by writings from celebrated African-American authors such as Zora Neale Hurston and August Wilson. 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy Union Boll Theatre, 300 College Park, Dayton. $5-$18. Call (937) 229-2545 or visit udayton.edu/artslive.
Next to Normal
Sept. 21-30, Troy Civic Theatre
Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s 2010 Pulitzer Prizewinning pop/rock musical concerns a grieving family haunted by the past. As the Goodmans come to terms with their loss, issues of suicide, depression, drug abuse, mental illness, and suburban angst arise. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Barn in the Park, 275 Adams St. Troy. $16. Call (937) 339-7700 or visit troycivictheatre.com.
Driving Miss Daisy
Through Sept.23, La Comedia Dinner Theatre
Alfred Uhry’s 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winning comic drama chronicles the unexpected friendship between an aging, wealthy, sharptongued Southern Jewish woman and her soft-spoken African-American chauffeur. Thursday-Sunday evening performances. Thursday, Friday and Sunday matinees at the theater, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro. $30$75. Call 1-800-677-9505 or (937) 746-4554 or visit lacomedia.com.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Sept. 27-Oct. 7, Wright State University
The local premiere of Simon Stephens’ critically acclaimed 2014 Tony Awardwinning British drama based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. The story concerns an autistic teenager investing the death of his neighbor’s dog. Along the way, his relationship with his parents is put to the test. Patrons are advised the show contains adult language and situations. Festival Playhouse of WSU Creative Arts Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. Sept. 27, Oct. 3 and 4 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 28, 29, Oct. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 30 and Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$25. Call (937) 775-2500 or visit https://liberal-arts.wright.edu/theatredance-and-motion-pictures/ box-office.
An authorized biography of Robert Pollard was just released. Pollard is a Daytonian and the guiding force behind his band Guided By Voices.
Matthew Cutter was able to obtain Pollard’s blessing and cooperation on this project. This should come as a bit of a pleasant surprise for many GBV fans as Pollard is known as a somewhat reclusive genius.
We go back to the beginning when the youngster they called Bobby was experiencing his first musical discoveries. The book opens with a telling recollection from Pollard that sets the tone for what was to follow.
Pollard recalled when he was 11 or 12 years old: “They had a revolving rack of 39-cent cut-out 45s and I used to take money from my mom’s purse occasionally and go down to StopN-Go and buy a few 45s.
“So on one occasion I bought ‘The Unknown Soldier’ single with the picture of a shirtless Jim Morrison on the sleeve. It’s a famous photo.”
His father saw it and expressed immediate outrage about it. Morrison, the lead singer of “The Doors” had recently been arrested at a concert in Miami. His father wanted to know “why did you buy that? Do you know what he did?” Pollard was unaware of the arrest until his dad told him.
His father’s reaction “did nothing to deter my passion for buying records and wanting to play rock music, which is exactly what my father did not want me to do.”
First, Pollard had to grow up. We learn about his youth and burgeoning athletic abilities.
During high school in Northridge, Pollard straddled worlds by reviewing music: “Too introspective for the jocks, Bob was also a little too straitlaced for the freaks. They were more benign than the hoods but still mean. ‘They might stab you in the leg or something,’ Bob says.
“But they accepted Bob despite his jock status, because he wrote ‘Platter Chatter,’ a record review column, for the school newspaper.”
Pollard went to Wright State where as a junior he pitched the first no-hitter in WSU baseball history. An elbow injury curtailed his athletic aspirations, but by then he had become absorbed by making music. He had taught himself how to play the guitar. In 1976 he got his first chance to be the front man for a band.
When they had asked him about joining the group he replied, “What makes you think I can sing?” Apparently Pollard often strolled the halls at Wright State while belting out song lyrics. Oh, they had heard him alright. They knew he could sing. The rest is history.
“Closer You Are” delves into how Guided By Voices came about and what Pollard has gone through as he has shepherded the band over the decades through shifting incarnations and lineups. The ever prolific Pollard continues to pour out musical creativity like flowing lava from a volcano.
If you are a GBV fan you should get a genuine Robert Pollard high kick out of this biography.
Vick Mickunas of Yellow Springs interviews authors every Saturday at 7 a.m. and on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on WYSO-FM (91.3). For more information, visit www. wyso.org/programs/booknook. Contact him at vick@ vickmickunas.com.