Sinclair’s theatre community has big plans for the coming school year, and their performing arts students are hard at work preparing to bring theatre lovers a season of entertainment well worthy of a supportive audience.
“One Hot Season” is the theme of this year’s theatre productions. Five shows meant to illuminate contemporary social issues are in the works, as well as a dance production directed by Dayton’s own Rodney Veal.
Students and staff are currently in preparation to put it all out onstage for our entertainment, to build their repertoire and to advance Dayton’s growing theatre community. Production teams work countless hours to prepare costumes, build sets, plan tech designs, block scenes and choreograph to make each production a success.
“One Hot Season” kicks off in October with the production of Pearl Cleage’s, Blues for an Alabama Sky, directed by Kimberly Borst. This show follows the political conflicts of the Harlem Renaissance through the experiences of five African Americans whose influences derive from the American activists Josephine Baker, Margaret Sanger and Langston Hughes.
Blues for an Alabama Sky opens in Blair Hall on Friday, October 6 at 8 p.m. There are six showings to choose from, with the final performance on October 14. Tickets cost $15 for students, but cost $10 on October 12 during Throwback Thursday.
In November the Black Box Theatre will present Radio Plays. “Be soundly scared” is the theme of Director Nelson Sheeley’s throwback to 1940’s radio plays. Radio Plays features four plays, with one play written by a Sinclair alumnus, Travis Williams, and another written by Sinclair Student, Maximilian Santucci.
Sinclair theatre’s 2017 holiday production is A Charlie Brown Christmas. The Charles M. Schulz classic will be directed by Gina Kleesattel with music directed by Katherine Frauman. All seats for the holiday showings cost $8 and must be reserved.
Doors open for A Charlie Brown Christmas at noon on December 14. There are seven showings scheduled over four days, with afternoon and evening shows over the weekend. The final production will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 17.
Fahrenheit 451 is coming to Blair Hall in February and is directed by Gary Minyard. The production of Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel will give an artistic voice to contemporary issues and the realities of anti-intellectualism.
In April, Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau takes stage at the Black Box Theatre. Chris Harmon will direct the stage production inspired by the racially charged Jena Six case of 2006. The Jena Six case in Louisiana led to protests which were described by the media of the time as “the largest civil rights demonstration in years.”
“One Hot Season” wraps up with Rodney Veal’s production, Moving Languages. Dancers of all backgrounds look to put their talent on display at Blair Hall on May 18 and 19 at 8 p.m., closing out the season by celebrating the universal language of movement.
Tickets and further information about Sinclair theatre are available at www.sinclair.edu/tickets.
Will Drewing
Managing Editor