Through Feb. 9, Dayton Playhouse
Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s hilariously naughty, R-rated, “Sesame Street”-inspired, Tony Award-winning musical comedy delights with particularly strong musicality. Director Ray Gambrel’s terrifically committed ensemble cast, warmly led by goofy Nolan Todd (Princeton) and lovely Sarah Roddey (Kate Monster), enjoyably convey the pleasures and pitfalls of life in a shabby New York City neighborhood where puppets and humans coexist. Songs include “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” “The Internet Is For Porn” and “For Now.” 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.
“The Minutes”
Jan. 31 through Feb. 16, Dayton Theatre Guild
Melissa Ertsgaard directs the local premiere of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-nominated comedy concerning power and small-town politics. The play also exposes “the ugliness behind some of our most closely held American narratives, asking each of us what we would do to avoid becoming history’s losers.” 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 p.m. Saturdays (with the exception of Feb. 1 beginning at 8 p.m.) and 3 p.m. Sundays at the Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. $13-$20. 937-278-5993 or daytontheatreguild.org.
Credit: submitted
Credit: submitted
“Chicago”
Feb. 4-9, Dayton Live
Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb and John Kander’s sexy, funny and timely musical about Chicago’s notorious murderesses – vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart – returns to Dayton. Songs include “And All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” “We Both Reached For The Gun” and “Razzle Dazzle.” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $47-$185. 937-228-3630 or daytonlive.org.
“A Distinct Society”
Feb. 5-16, Human Race Theatre Company
This dramatic comedy, inspired by true events and set inside a library straddling the U.S.-Canada border, has been described as “a touching and thought-provoking new play about the many things – family, food, art, love, and politics – that can either divide or unite us.” “Kareem’s play provides an extraordinary human perspective on an issue that is often addressed in dehumanizing ways,” said Human Race Artistic Director Emily N. Wells. Brant Russell, head of the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music Acting program, directs this local premiere. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. $23-$62. 937-228-3630 or humanracetheatre.org.
“Cinderella”
Feb. 14-16, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance
Following on the impressive heels of his beautiful reimagining of “The Nutcracker,” Dayton Ballet Artistic Director Brandon Ragland is back to helm this classic, magical and romantic work set to the music of Prokofiev. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $6-$127. 937-228-3630 or daytonperformingarts.org.
“Much Ado About Nothing”
Feb. 14-23, Wright State University
Josh Aaron McCabe directs and adapts Shakespeare’s comedy about mistaken identity, witty banter and romance. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in the Festival Playhouse of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton. $15-$25. 937-775-2500 or liberal-arts.wright.edu.
Credit: Human Race
Credit: Human Race
“Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders”
Feb. 15, Arbogast Performing Arts Center
Combining breathtaking visuals with master illusionist Vitaly’s captivating style, “An Evening of Wonders” is an interactive theatrical experience that takes the audience on a magical journey. Along the way, Vitaly blends art and illusion to create a world where the rules of reality do not exist. Paintings spring to life, photographs become mini-movies, and audience members see their faces vanish from their own driver’s licenses. 7 p.m. Saturday at the Arbogast Center, 500 S. Dorset Road, Troy. $30-$55. 937-418-8392 or arbogastpac.com.
“Everybody”
Feb. 21-March 2, Wright State University
Wright State alum Greg Malios directs Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' modern adaptation of “Everyman,” a 15th-century morality play, centering on the meaning of living. At each performance, the actors' roles are selected by lottery, requiring each actor to know and perform all the roles. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in the downstairs Herbst Theatre of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton. $5-$15. 937-775-2500 or liberal-arts.wright.edu.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
“Hollywood Hits”
Feb. 22, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance
The Dayton Philharmonic performs movie themes from “Gone with the Wind,” “Dr. Zhivago,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Pink Panther,” “Dances With Wolves,” “Ben-Hur” and more. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $14-$118. 937-228-3630 or daytonperformingarts.org.
“Peter Pan”
Feb. 26-March 2, Dayton Live
A new adaptation of this classic family-friendly musical features such tunes as “I Gotta Crow,” “I’m Flying,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Neverland.” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton. $34-$149. 937-228-3630 or daytonlive.org.
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
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