>> DAYTON BUCKET LIST: 100 things to do in Dayton in 2020
😃NOTABLE JANUARY EVENTS
1) RENT
It has been more than two decades since Jonathan Larson's rock musical "Rent" burst onto Broadway. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1996. The 20th anniversary tour of the show is currently on the road. Victoria Theatre Association's Premier Health Broadway Season Series presents "Rent" at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 21 through 26. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $26 through $94. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
2) IN THE HEIGHTS
Before "Hamilton" was a smash on Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda was already enthralling theater fans with his 2005 debut, "In the Heights." He wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, which is now a big screen feature film hitting cinemas in June 2020. Muse Machine presents "In the Heights" at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 16 through 19. Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $27 through $65. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
>> Lin-Manuel Miranda to Dayton kids: ‘You guys are the best’
3) THE TENDERLOINS
The four members of the comedy troupe the Tenderloins met in 1990 when they were freshmen in high school in Staten Island. In 1999, the old friends got back together and started doing sketch comedy together. Two decades later they are bigger than ever. The Tenderloins' truTV show, "Impractical Jokers," is now in its eight season. The comedians bring "The Cranjis McBasketball World Comedy Tour" to the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. Cost: $52.50. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.
>> The Impractical Jokers are coming to town! Here’s how to get in on the fun
4) WINTER WINE FEST
More than 50 wines and food from executive chef Matt DeAngulo featured are featured in the Winter Wine Festival. You must be 21 to attend this tasting event in the Schuster Center's Wintergarden, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. Cost: $55. VIP passes are $85 and include exclusive wine and food in the Loge Lounge. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
5) FLYIN’ TO THE HOOP
Trent Arena, 3301 Shroyer Road, Kettering, is the site of the 2020 Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational Friday through Monday, Jan. 17-20. The 18th annual high school basketball tournament features 20 games and 38 teams with more than 75 projected Division I recruits, including Elijah Fisher from Crestwood Prep, Grayson's Deivon Smith and Sadraque Nganga from Hillcrest Prep. Games begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Cost: $10-$100. Visit flyintothehoop.com.
6) DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE
Musicians, dancers, comedians and public speakers have all tread the stage of the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, since the venue opened in 1866. However, it's rare to see a T-Rex stomping through one of the city's true cultural treasures. That's exactly what's happening when Victoria Theatre Association's Family Series presents the interactive family show Dinosaur World Live at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Cost: $29. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
7) WWE LIVE
WWE Live makes regular appearances at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, but this time offers something new. The touring professional wrestling show presents "The New Year's Revolution Supershow" at the Nutter Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. While the card is subject to change, schedule wrestlers include The Miz, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens and the Kabuki Warriors. Cost: $23-$108. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.
8) WORKS ON PAPER
Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering celebrates a major milestone with "The 30th annual Works On Paper." Jason Shaiman, curator of Exhibitions at Miami University Art Museum, was the juror for the exhibition opening in Rosewood Gallery on Sunday, Jan. 19. Rosewood Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. "Works On Paper," which has an artist reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, is on display through Friday, Feb. 21. Cost: Free. Call 937-296-0294 or visit www.playkettering.org.
9) WITH DEVOTION
Curator-in-residence Jeffrey Cortland Jones selected the work of four female artists from Ohio in "With Devotion." The new exhibition opens at The Contemporary, 118 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, on Friday, Jan. 17. Participating artists Alison Jardine, Heather Jones, Jennifer Omaitz and Paige Williams will be at The Contemporary for a Gallery Talk on Friday, Feb. 7. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. "With Devotion" is on display through Saturday, Feb. 15. Cost: Free. Call 937-224-3822 or visit www.thecontemporarydayton.org.
10) THE MOUNTAIN MINOR
Oxford-based filmmaker Dale Farmer's "The Mountain Minor" has won numerous awards at events such as the Longleaf Festival in North Carolina, the Jukebox International Film Festival in Nevada and the Northeast Mountain Festival in Georgia. The narrative feature about a family of Appalachian migrants in Southwest Ohio and the music they brought with them has two local screenings. "The Mountain Minor" is presented at the Plaza Theatre, 33 S. Main St., Miamisburg, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, and at The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. Farmer and some of the cast will take part in Q&A's following each screening. There will be live music before each screening with the Rabbit Hash String Band on Wednesday and the Corn Drinkers on Thursday. Visit www.themountainminor.com.
🎭MORE JANUARY THEATER
1) THE OFFICE PARODY
The televised exploits of the employees of the fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin receive a tune-filled update during "The Office! A Musical Parody." The touring production of the unauthorized musical tribute to the NBC television program features songs like "That's What She Said" and "The Dundees." "The Office! A Musical Parody" is presented at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Cost: $32-$52. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
>> Calling all Dunderheads: ‘The Office! A Musical Parody’ is coming to Dayton
2) MAN OF LA MANCHA
"The Impossible Dream" and "Dulcinea" are just two of the indelible songs from "Man of La Mancha." The Broadway hit inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote" opens at Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, on Friday, Jan. 17. This production is directed by Dawn Roth Smith with music direction by Sarah Plaugher. "Man of La Mancha" runs weekends through Sunday, Feb. 2. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $18-$20. Call 937-424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.org.
3) MR. RICKEY CALLS A MEETING
The best way to announce that Jackie Robinson will be the first African-American player in Major League Baseball drives the action in Ed Schmidt's "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting." Dayton Theatre Guild's production of the 1989 play opens in the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton, on Friday, Jan. 24. "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" is presented through Sunday, Feb. 9. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday opening weekend, and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday the following weekends. Cost: $20 adults, $18 seniors and $13 students. Season tickets are available. Call 937-278-5993 or visit www.daytontheatreguild.org.
4) THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Tennessee Williams introduced plenty of tragic characters into the canon of American theater and it all started with "The Glass Menagerie." The 1944 drama elevated him from obscurity to in-demand playwright. Mike Taint directs Xenia Area Community Theater's production of the drama, which opens at X-Act Theater, 45 E. Second St., Xenia, on Friday, Jan. 10. "The Glass Menagerie" runs weekends through Sunday, Jan. 19. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Jan. 19. Cost: $17 general admission, $15.30 members, $14 students, seniors and military, $7 children 12 and younger. Call 937-372-0516 or visit www.xeniaact.org.
5) THE HUMANS
"The Humans," which opened on Broadway in 2016, after an Off-Broadway run the previous year, won the Tony Award for Best Play and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. Aaron Brewer directs this one-act play by Stephen Karam, opening at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, on Friday, Jan. 31. "The Humans" is presented through Sunday, Feb. 9. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $12 to $15. Call 937-429-4737 or visit www.bctheatre.org.
6) NUNSENSE
It has been a surprisingly enduring run for "Nunsense," which opened in 1985 for the second-longest run in Off-Broadway history. The musical with book, lyrics and music by Dan Goggin opens at La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro, on Thursday, Jan. 23. "Nunsense" runs through Sunday, Feb. 16. Show times are 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For the buffet, arrive 90 minutes to two hours before show time. Cost: $61 to $74 adults, $30 children 11 and younger. Call 937-746-4554 or visit www.lacomedia.com.
7) A DRAGON’S HEART
Mainstage Series Productions presents "A Dragon's Heart Part 1: The Colony," which opens at Town Hall Theatre, 27 N. Main St., Centerville, on Friday, Jan. 17. This production is presented weekends through Sunday, Feb. 2. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with a sensory friendly 11 a.m. matinee on Saturday, Jan. 25. Cost: $15 adults, $13 seniors 55 and older and students, $10 children 12 and younger. Call 937-433-8957 or visit www.washingtontwp.org.
8) CHARLOTTE’S WEB
Springboro Community Theatre continues its inaugural season in its newly opened home in Springboro Performing Arts Center, 115 Wright Station Way, Springboro. The company presents youth performances of "Charlotte's Web," E.B. White's moving tale of two unlikely friends. The show opens on Friday, Jan. 10. "Charlotte's Web" is presented weekends through Sunday, Jan. 19. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $10. Visit www.borotheatre.org.
9) DARE 2 DREAM 2
Dare 2 Defy Theatre hosts "Dare 2 Dream 2: Continuing the Dream" at The Brightside Music & Event Venue, 905 E. Third St., Suite B, Dayton, on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 & 11. The two-night fundraising cabaret features D2D company members. Cost: $15-$25. Dare 2 Defy presents "Jekyll & Hyde The Musical" March 19 through 22. Visit www.dare2defy.org.
10) LEBANON THEATRE
"My Favorite Things" is the theme for the annual fundraiser for Lebanon Theatre Company, 10 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon. The musical revue at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18, was programmed by music director Jay Mills and features performers from the company. Unlike past galas, this is not a dinner event. Cost: $35. Visit www.ltcplays.com.
🎸JANUARY CONCERTS
1) QUEENS OF SOUL
The hit songs of powerful female vocalists such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Alicia Keys make up the repertoire of "Queens of Soul." Guest vocalists Shayna Steele, Brie Cassil and Tamika Lawrence join the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for this Rockin' Orchestra Series concert at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4. Cost: $24 to $82. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
2) FUNK UNPLUGGED
Tony "Silky T" Allen, Deron Bell, Bill Ward, Felecia Jefferson and their bandmates in the Dayton Funk All Stars Funk specialize in recreating the sounds of Roger Troutman, Slave, Sun and other area acts. The local group is taking a different approach with Funk Unplugged, a stripped-down acoustic experience at PNC Arts Annex Theatre, 46 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Cost: $25 risers and $35 tables. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
>> 8 Dayton bands you should give a funk about
3) DUSTIN LYNCH
This has been a busy year for country singer Dustin Lynch. He released the EP, "Ridin' Roads," in March and completed the new full-length "Tullahoma," being released by Broken Bow Records on January 17. The Tennessee native brings his Stay Country Tour 2020 to Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $38.50 to $56. Special guest Travis Dennis will also perform. Call 937-339-2911 or visit www.hobartarena.com.
4) BEETHOVEN AND RACHMANINOFF
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra presents "Beethoven and Rachmaninoff" at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10 and 11. DPO Concertmaster Jessica Hung (violin) joins the orchestra for this Masterworks Series concert featuring Ludwig van Beethoven's "Violin Concerto," "Symphonic Dances" by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Lili Boulanger's "D'un matin de printemps." Cost: $12 to $66. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
5) ENUFF Z’NUFF
Glam metal is the tag that was foisted on Enuff Z'nuff when the group emerged out of Illinois in 1984. In truth the band has always been more a hard-edged power-pop band. The group's 14th studio album, "Diamond Boy," was released in 2018. Enuff Z'nuff performs with openers Blackwater, Sizter Machyne and Barstool Brown at Turnbuckles & Brews, 638 Watervliet Ave., Dayton, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. Cost: $12. Visit www.turnbucklesandbrews.com.
6) DPO’S NAT & NATALIE
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra pays tribute to music of Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie with "Unforgettable: Nat and Natalie." The SuperPops Series concert, at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18, features symphonic versions of indelible hits such "Unforgettable," "When I Fall in Love," "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "This Will Be." Cost: $24 to $82. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
7) MR. SPEED
When it comes to performing KISS songs, the members of Mr. Speed aren't newbies. The tribute band has been specializing in the music of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons for 25 years. Mr. Speed performs with special guests Blackwater at The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Cost: $15-$35. Call 937-410-0450 or visit www.thebrightsidedayton.com.
8) WILLIAM MATHENY
West Virginia-based William Matheny, a one-time member of area band Southeast Engine, was a critics darling with his 2017 album, "Strange Constellations." Matheny brings his group back to town for a show at Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. Cost: $7 in advance, $10 at the door. The Boxcar Suite and Human Cannonball will also perform. Call 937-424-3870 or visit www.yellowcabtavern.com.
About the Author