Theatre Hall of Fame, DayTonys gala celebrate arts community
The 17th annual Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame induction and 16th annual DayTony Awards gala took place Saturday, July 27, at the Dayton Woman’s Club.
Five participating theaters of the DayTony Theatre Network (Beavercreek Community Theatre, Dayton Theatre Guild, Lebanon Theatre Company, Troy Civic Theatre and Xenia Area Community Theater) were recognized for their work throughout the 2018-2019 season. Five shows received the coveted prize of Outstanding Overall Production: “Cabaret” (Beavercreek Community Theatre), “Fun Home” (Beavercreek Community Theatre), “The Little Foxes” (Dayton Theatre Guild), “The Shadow Box” (Dayton Theatre Guild), and “She Loves Me” (Lebanon Theatre Company). A bevy of actors, actresses, directors, designers, and more received certificates and medallions of excellence or merit as well.
Three women joined the prestigious Hall of Fame: educator/actress Becky Barrett-Jones, choreographer Stacy Ann Gear and actress Debra Strauss. Barrett-Jones, owner of The Music In Me voice studio who has taught voice at Wright State University and has appeared in numerous local and regional productions such as “Funny Girl” (Dayton Playhouse), “Next to Normal” (Beavercreek Community Theatre) and “Mamma Mia!” (La Comedia Dinner Theatre), was inducted by her husband Alan Bomar Jones, Human Race Theatre Company Resident Artist.
“(In the Bible), Hebrews 11 talks about how we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,” said Barrett-Jones, who grew up singing at Far Hills Church and has coached students who have competed on “American Idol” and “The Voice.” “And today, I feel surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and all the people who have come before me as Hall of Fame recipients and all the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with in the theater community, which is such an incredible family. I have had the opportunity to achieve so many dream roles and watch so many students achieve their dream in every shape and size. I also stand before you as a breast cancer fighter, (but in the process) I will become a survivor. I know we all go through some unique things so I want to (share) this quote I put on my wall last year: ‘In this life, we all walk up mountains. We can sing as we climb or complain about our sore feet. Whichever we choose, we still (have) to do the hike. I decided to sing.”
Gear, a Wright State University graduate in dance, made history as the Hall of Fame’s first choreographer. She has created vibrant musical numbers for over 50 shows in the Miami Valley for theaters and schools including Beavercreek Community Theatre, Dayton Playhouse, Miami University, Town Hall Theatre and Vandalia Youth Theatre.
“Thank you to the rare individuals in my life who have listened without judgment, spoken without prejudice, understood without pretention, and loved me without conditions,” said Gear, inducted by Beavercreek Community Theatre President Doug Lloyd, her frequent collaborator. “I thank the Dayton theater community and some I’ve had the pleasure of working with who were willing to take risks, working out of your comfort zones and always giving it your all. I appreciate you being able to share the joy of dance with others. I’m so very grateful and honored to join the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame. Hard work and many late nights pay off.”
Strauss, DayTony Theatre Network president recently elected to her fifth term, has acted, danced, choreographed, and worked behind the scenes in the Dayton theater community for 20 years at such venues as Beavercreek Community Theatre, Dayton Playhouse, Dayton Theatre Guild and Troy Civic Theatre.
“I’ve been in love with theater all my life but I’m a relative late bloomer (doing) theater,” said Strauss, who hosted the gala. “I learned my craft through on-the-job training, fortunate to (work) with smart, insightful directors like Saul Caplan, Jim Lockwood, and my sweet husband Michael (Rousculp) who taught me to think, respond and be fearless on stage. I’ve (also) had the great good fortune to work with some wonderfully talented actors. And when you’re working with good people, it makes you want to rise to the occasion. Theatre became my second family. All the best people I know I met in the theater.”
In addition, a touching In Memoriam segment accented the program in remembrance of actor Harold Fox, actress Cheryl Kayser, actress and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Meece, aforementioned actor/director/musician Rousculp, theater critic/artist Jacqui Theobald, and musician/educator Scot Woolley.
Here is a sample of the 20182019 DayTony recipients. For a complete list, visit daytonys.org.