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>> Where to eat Easter brunch and dinner
>> Easter egg hunts this weekend
1) BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
In “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” playwright Neil Simon crafted a humorous and touching coming-of-age tale about Eugene Jerome. The story, which was adapted into a 1986 feature film, details the youngster’s experiences growing up with his extended family in 1930s Brooklyn.
Human Race Theatre Company’s production of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” is directed by Marya Spring Cordes. The play opens at Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton, Thursday, on April 5.
Show times are 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday with special 7 p.m. show on April 8. “Brighton Beach Memoirs” is presented through April 22. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
2) JIMMIE “JJ” WALKER
Jimmie “JJ” Walker’s mainstream heyday was the mid-1970s when he was a breakout star on the CBS sitcom “Good Times.” Even when he was on T-shirts and magazine covers, he never gave up on stand-up comedy. Recent TV credits include “Mr. Box Office” and “Everybody Hates Chris but, at 70 years old, comedy is his main focus. Walker performs at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, 88 Plum St., The Greene, Beavercreek, Thursday through Sunday, April 5 through 8. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Cost: $47 Thursday and Sunday, $50 Friday and Saturday. Call 937-429-LAFF (5233) or visit www.daytonfunnybone.com.
3) MAZE
Frankie Beverly and Maze made its name with number one R&B singles like “Back in Stride” and “Can’t Get Over You.” More than 40 years later, the hit-makers from San Francisco are still engaging live audiences with a silky smooth brand of quiet storm R&B. The group presents An Evening with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31. Special guest Alex Bugnon will also perform. Cost: Tickets start at $42. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
4) PLATINUM COMEDY
The Platinum Comedy Tour, currently hitting theaters, stadiums and other venues in the United States, features headliner Mike Epps with a rotating cast of talented comics. Epps, an Indianapolis native, started doing stand-up when he was still a teenager. He went on to success in film and on television. When the Platinum Comedy Tour hits the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Friday, March 30, Epps will be joined by George Wallace and DeRay Davis. Cost: $49-$73. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
5) UD ARTS CELEBRATION
Student groups from performing arts in music, dance and theater at the University of Dayton will showcase their talents during UD Celebration of the Arts. The event is presented at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, on Wednesday, April 4. An art exhibition in the Schuster's Wintergarden is open for viewing at 6 p.m. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Cost: Admission is free but tickets are required. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
Credit: Bill Lackey
Credit: Bill Lackey
6) EASTER EGG HUNTS
There are quite a few Easter Egg hunts in the area this weekend. Two of the biggest and longest running, at Young's Jersey Dairy, 6800 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, are both at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 1. Young's hosts its 36th annual Easter Egg Hunt, while Wright-Patt's 49th event, is co-presented by the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce at Central Park, 222 S. Central Ave., Fairborn. Participants in each hunt will be grouped by age. Cost: Free. Visit https://youngsdairy.com and www.fairbornchamber.com.
7) SHRUG
Shrug is one of the most revered original rock bands on the local scene but the veteran group's shows are all too infrequent these days. That's why it's such a big deal the quintet has a performance at Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31. Shrug is currently working on the follow-up to the 2016 album, "Age of Ashes." The Flying Underground from Cincinnati and Dayton's own John Dubuc & the Guilty Pleasures will also perform. Cost: $7. Visit www.yellowcabtavern.com.
8) DAI BEHIND THE SCENES
Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, hosts "Behind the Scenes: Above the Fold." For the program, from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 5, Peter Doebler and Susan Martis discuss the staging of the current special exhibition of origami art. Cost: $5 members, $10 nonmembers and free for University of Dayton students. Space is limited so advance reservations are recommended. "Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami" is on display through May 13. Call 937-223-5277 or visit www.daytonartinstitute.org.
9) DARKNESS DIVIDED
After eight years together, the members of Darkness Divided have decided to call it quits but not before hitting the road for one last round of shows. The Christian metalcore band from Texas has released albums on Victory Records such as "Darkness Divided" and "Written in Blood" but the group's new EP, "End of it All," is an independent release. Darkness Divided brings its farewell tour to Rockstar Pro Arena, 1106 E. Third St., Dayton, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3. Special guests Charcoal Tongue will also perform. Cost: $10. All ages show. Visit www.rockstarproarena.net.
10) MIKE PETERS ART
Mike Peters is one of the most respected newspaper cartoonists of the second half of the 20th century. The work of the Pulitzer Prize winner, who created editorial cartoons and the long-running syndicated comic strip, "Mother Goose & Grimm," appeared in the Dayton Daily News and other publications for more than five decades. A retrospective of his work, "What a Hoot! Cartoons and Comics by Mike Peters," is currently on display in the Opportunity Space on the first floor of the Dayton Metro Library, Main Branch, 215 E. Third St., Dayton. Cost: Free. The exhibition is on display through April 3 to May 11. Visit www.daytonmetrolibrary.org.
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