VIDEO: To hear Col. John M. Devillier, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing, share thoughts about the just-announced collaboration, visit MyDaytonDailyNews.com
Airmen and their families will soon be able to enjoy a variety of live theatrical experiences, thanks to a new collaboration between the The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) and the Victoria Theatre Association (VTA).
The announcement was made on Thursday by Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition; Ken Neufeld, president/CEO of the Victoria Theatre Association; and Col. John M. Devillier, Commander, 88th Air Base Wing.
The DDC has hosted a “Hometown Heroes” program with the Dayton Dragons through the years and this past summer introduced a Star Spangled Celebration, a four-day celebration aimed to honor servicemen and women that included a local appearance by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, the Vectren Dayton Air Show and Freedom’s Call at the base.
“We, too, like baseball, but in January there are other things to do,” Neufeld said.
A limited number of free tickets to the VTA’s series of Broadway, Family and Discovery performances as well as the Star Attractions will be available to military families. Special behind-the-scenes events will be included as well, he said.
When a production of “The Wright Stuff: First in Flight” comes to town at the end of this month, for example, it will make one of its scheduled appearances at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
In some instances, transportation will be provided from the base to the theater. Tickets to the arts events will be distributed through Wright-Patterson’s Family Readiness Center.
Neufeld said this program is one of the first collaborations among a Development Coalition, Performing Arts Center and military installation in the nation.
Ricia Ballas, the VTA’s vice president of development, said the project got its start two years ago when the theater hosted 100 airmen and their families who had recently returned from deployment for performances of “Shrek The Musical” and “War Horse.”
“We had one of the airmen sing the national anthem and the honor guard present the flag,” she said. “After the show, we had characters from the show read stories to the children.”
Col. Devillier said the airmen are excited about the opportunity to see some great theater.
“The fact that people say thank you for what we do for our country is so appreciated,” he said.
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