Jan. 4, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
The music of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Donna Summer will be performed by guest vocalists Brie Cassil, Tamika Lawrence and Shayna Steele. 8 p.m. Saturday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $24-$82. (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
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Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
Jan. 10-11, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Dayton Philharmonic Concertmaster Jessica Hung's interpretation of Beethoven's "Violin Concerto," one of the most challenging pieces in the classical repertoire, is the centerpiece of this concert, which also features Rachmaninoff's final orchestral work "Symphonic Dances." 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $12-$66. (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
The Glass Menagerie
Jan. 10-19, Xenia Area Community Theater
Set in 1937 St. Louis, Tennessee Williams' landmark 1945 drama chronicles the dysfunction and heartbreak within the Wingfield family, whose climactic dinner with a Gentleman Caller sets in motion a sequence of events that shatters them forever. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at XACT, 45 E. Second St., Xenia. $7-$20. (937) 372-0516 or xeniaact.org.
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In the Heights
Jan. 16-19, Muse Machine
It'll be a few years before Dayton sees Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton," but his joyous 2008 Tony Award-winning musical deserves your attention, especially in the hands of Muse Machine. Trust me: Nate Saner of Xenia High School is on the brink of delivering a breakthrough performance as Usnavi, the suave hip-hop narrator attempting to keep spirits uplifted in New York's diverse Washington Heights community. 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton. $27-$65. (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
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Unforgettable: Nat and Natalie
Jan. 17-18, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Broadway vocalists Denzal Sinclaire and Dee Daniels pay homage to the legendary father-daughter duo with hits including "Mona Lisa," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "L-O-V-E," "Inseparable," "This Will Be," and the title tune. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $24-$82. (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
Man of La Mancha
Jan. 17-Feb. 2, Dayton Playhouse
Iconic ballad "The Impossible Dream" will be sung by Tim Rezash in this 1965 classic inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote." Added bonus: Sarah Wilson, a superb soprano and knockout Eliza Doolittle in the Playhouse's "My Fair Lady" last season, portrays Aldonza. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton. $18-$20. (937) 424-8477 or daytonplayhouse.com.
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Rent
Jan. 21-26, Victoria Theatre Association
Inspired by Puccini's "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson's bold, daring, poignant, and tuneful 1996 Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical includes "One Song Glory," "Light My Candle," "I'll Cover You," "Over the Moon," "Take Me or Leave Me," and the title tune. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $26-$104. (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com.
Nunsense
Jan. 23-Feb. 16, La Comedia Dinner Theatre
The charming Little Sisters of Hoboken are back. Sister Leo, Sister Robert Anne, Sister Mary Amnesia, Sister Mary Hubert, and Mother Superior Sister Regina humorously join forces to raise funds to properly bury 52 recently buried sisters. Songs include "Nunsense is Habit-Forming," "Tackle that Temptation with a Time Step" and "Growing Up Catholic." Thursday and Friday matinee and evening, Sunday evening, Sunday brunch, and Saturday evening at La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro. $30-$74. 1-800-677-9505 or (937) 746-4554 or lacomedia.com.
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Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting
Jan. 24-Feb. 9, Dayton Theatre Guild
Playwright Ed Schmidt imagines Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, Paul Robeson, and Bill Robinson (a.k.a. Mr. Bojangles) gathering for a 1947 meeting with Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey to discuss breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 p.m. Saturdays (with the exception of the Jan. 25 performance at 8 p.m.) and 3 p.m. Sundays at the Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. $13-$20. (937) 278-5993 or daytontheatreguild.org.
The Humans
Jan. 31-Feb. 9, Beavercreek Community Theatre
Stephen Karam's edgy 2016 Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama about a tense, mysterious Thanksgiving gathering receives its local premiere. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at BCT's Lofino Center, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek. $12-$15. (937) 429-4737 or bctheatre.org.
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