Award-winning flood drama to return

WSU reviving drama about the 1913 Dayton flood.

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By Terry Morris, Staff Writer 1:32 PM Saturday, February 4, 2012

Wright State University Theatre has replaced the Agatha Christie mystery “Witness for the Prosecution” with a revival of the original historical drama “1913: The Great Dayton Flood” on its 2012-13 season.

Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures chair W. Stuart McDowell will direct the production during the 100th anniversary year of “Dayton’s defining moment,” he said.

“1913,” which had its premiere on campus in 1996, is a play like no other in WSU’s history.

It also was presented in a sold-out run at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton and at the American College Theatre Festival in both Columbus and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where it took national honors.

Written by McDowell and then-WSU student Timothy Nevits, the play was based on Allen W. Eckert’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1965 book “A Time of Terror.” The production has recorded narration by Martin Sheen, Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis. New gospel and blues music will be added in 2013.

Next season at WSU will also include: “The Miracle Worker,” about Helen Keller and teacher Annie Sullivan, in September; the musical “Funny Girl,” the musical “Grand Hotel” and, in the downstairs Herbst Theatre, “Spring Awakening” and “All in the Timing.”

The current year’s WSU stage lineup will bring a modern-dress staging of Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” Feb. 16-26; Kurt Weill’s “Berlin to Broadway,” March 2-4 in the Herbst; “The Phantom of the Opera,” May 10-27,” and part two of Bruce Cromer’s adaptation of Dickens’ “Barnaby Rudge,” June 1-3 in the Herbst. Call (937) 775-2500 for tickets.

Bit parts

The Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Salem Ave., will present the comic fantasy “Wittenberg” on weekends Feb. 10-26. The play by David Davalos brings together Hamlet (who is a student at the German university of the title), Dr. Faustus and Martin Luther. They debate faith and reason, which culminates in the nailing of the theses on the church door.

Saul Caplan is directing a cast of Charles Larkowski (Luther), David Shough (Faustus), Jared Mola (Hamlet) and Lynn Kesson, as the Eternal Female.

Times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Feb. 11; 5 p.m. Feb. 18 and 25, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Call (937) 278-5993, or visit www.dayton theatreguild.org.

Role call

The Dayton Theatre Guild will have auditions for Lee Blessing’s “Going to St. Ives” at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13 and 14, at 430 Wayne Ave. Greg Smith is director and performances will be March 16 through April 1. Call (937) 278-5993 or go to daytonthreatreguild.org for more information.

Footlights illuminates local theater arts news and audition information. Contact this reporter at tmorris@ DaytonDailyNews.com.

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