A stage musical introduced in the 1990s had successful runs on Broadway and London’s West End. Dare to Defy’s production of “The Who’s Tommy” opens at the Schuster Center, Mathile Theatre, Dayton, on Friday, Jan. 12. The musical is also presented on Saturday, Jan. 13, and Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20.
Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday opening weekend, 8 p.m. Saturday on closing night. Cost: $25 adult, $21.50 military and seniors 60 and older, $16.50 student. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
>> Best theater in Dayton this month
2) JEFF DUNHAM
Jeff Dunham was a working ventriloquist for more than two decades, performing in comedy clubs to a solid fan base. However, his mainstream profile blossomed in 2008 thanks to the breakout success of a string of Comedy Central specials. Today, Dunham performs in massive venues as one of the most successful international touring acts on the planet. His latest special was the Netflix Original, "Relative Disaster" (2017). Dunham brings his Passively Aggressive World Tour 2017-2018 to the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Cost: $51.50. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.
>> 5 hot comedy shows for a cold January
3) STRING & HARP QUARTET
In 2017, the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance launched EDGE, a new concert series featuring a variety of musical acts. The latest concert in the series is the String & Harp Quartet at Emporium Wines & Underdog Cafe, 233 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. The ensemble features Leslie Stratton (harp), Katherine Ballester (violin), Kim Trout (viola) and Christina Coletta (cello). Cost: Free. The next program in the series is a very different concert on Thursday, Feb. 1, featuring rock 'n' roll, funk and soul from Reload with Kickin' Horns at Warped Wing Brewing Company. Visit www.daytonperformingarts.org/edge.
4) MLK DAY
"Am I My Brother's Keeper?" is theme of the 2018 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which comes to a close with a series of events on Monday, Jan. 15. The annual celebration begins with the MLK March at the Charles Drew Health Center, 1323 W. Third St., Dayton, at 10 a.m. The march is followed by a Youth Rally at Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, at 11 a.m. The closing program of the 2018 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: "Am I My Brother's Keeper?" is the MLK Celebration at Dayton Convention Center at 6 p.m. that evening. Visit www.mlkdayton.org.
5) THE CLINE SHOW
The work of 40 college and university art and design students will be on display in "The Cline Show: Annual Arts & Design Invitational." The exhibition opens at Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, on Friday, Jan. 12. DVAC hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Cost: Free. "The Cline Show" is on display through February 10. An opening reception for this exhibition will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. February 2. Call 937-224-3822 or visit www.daytonvisualarts.org.
6) WINTERFOLK FESTIVAL 5
Winterfolk 2018 is presented at the Yellow Cab Bldg., 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. The fifth annual music festival features performances by the Repeating Arms, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Tod Weidner, Kyleen Downes and others. The event also has a visual arts component with an exhibition featuring painters Virgil Clark and Tiffany Clark and photographer RS Tipton. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost: $10, free for children 12 and younger. Visit www.yellowcabtavern.com.
7) FLYIN’ TO THE HOOP INVITATIONAL
Trent Arena, 3301 Shroyer Road, Kettering, will be ground zero for high school basketball fans Friday through Monday, Jan. 12 through 15. The occasion is the 2018 Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational. Bol Bol from number one ranked Findlay Prep, Charles Bassey from Aspire Academy and Silvio De Sousa from IMG are among the more than 75 projected Division I basketball recruits from 38 teams participating in the 16th annual high school tournament. Games begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Cost: $10-$100. Visit http://flyintothehoop.com.
8) SHAUN LATHAM
Shaun Latham moved around a lot as a child, spending time in Arizona and Ohio. His positive demeanor and quick wit helped him navigate his teenage years and now provides the backbone for his high energy comedy. Latham, a Los Angeles-based stand-up comic and cohost of the podcast "The Pat McAfee Show," is in town for a one-nighter at Wiley's Comedy Joint, 101 Pine St., Dayton, on Saturday, Jan. 13. Show times are 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. Cost: $10. Call 937-224-5653 or visit www.wileyscomedy.com.
9) BLOODY MARY SHOWDOWN
A selection of area bartenders will show what they can do to jazz up a drink featuring vodka and tomato juice during the return of the Bloody Mary Showdown. The third annual competition is presented at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Bldg. 1, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Cost: $25 for judging credentials, which includes eight four-ounce samples and a chance to vote for your favorite recipe. The $40 VIP ticket includes early entry at 11 a.m., 12 tasting tickets and two votes. Proceeds will benefit The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley. Visit www.mostmetro.com.
>> What to know about the Bloody Mary Showdown
10) ROBYN WRIGHT-STRAUSS
Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton launches its 2018 Winter Speaker Series on Sunday, Jan. 14. Robyn Wright-Strauss, the Chief Naturalist of Edge of Appalachia, presents "Hey, Robyn, What's This," at 2:30 p.m. The Winter Speaker Series continues with Marne Tichenell, a wildlife program specialist for Ohio State University, on January 21, followed by Aullwood environmental educator Sam Rome on January 28. Cost: $7 adults, $5 children, free for Friends of Aullwood and members of the National Audubon Society. Call 937-890-7360 or www.aullwood.org.
About the Author