Merry Widow combines comedy, dance and music

Great musical theatre. Thismagnificent art form comes inseveral genres. First, of course, isgrand opera. Made in heavenitself, it is all-encompassing andstands atop the Mt. Olympus ofart.

Right up there are AmericanMusical Theatre and VienneseOperetta. They will also live for-ever. I feel that American MusicalTheatre is in a rather depressedstate now. Revivals of the pastgreat age populate the major the-

aters. Vienna’s music is crystal-lized as a by-gone era.

When any of these works arerevived, treated with the reverenceand freshness they deserve, it is arevelation. Dayton Opera’s latestproduction, Franz Lehár’s TheMerry Widow is just such a revela-tion.

When Dayton OperaImpresario Tom Bankstonannounced that “Widow” wouldend this season, I had personalqualms. It is a very dated piece,full of some of the greatest music,but also full of concerns for amythical European monarchy anda convoluted love story well-lacedwith comedy.

Who cares any longer forPontevedrio? After seeing thismasterful production, I do – and

so did the large audience on open-ing night!

Impresario Tom has assembleda cast and team who are talentedand beautiful. They are full of thevery spark needed to make this theQueen of operettas, written by theacknowledged King of operettaFranz Lehár, sparkle.

Lehár’s music pervades everyscene. The magnificent tunes,familiar but rarely heard in fullcontext, are heavenly. MaestroJeff Powell and the Philharmonicartists did not miss a single oppor-tunity to fill the Schuster with thisgreat music.

The stage was filled with sump-tuously gowned ladies, elegantgentlemen in smashing uniformsand medals and, of course,

THE OAKWOOD REGISTER March 31, 2009 WWW.OAKWOODREGISTER.COM

See Widow on page 11

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What’s UpTThhiis WWeeeekk!!

www.cityfolk.org937.496.3863

for tickets, music & info

Electrifying French vocal ensemble

Lo Còr de la Plana 8 PM Tuesday, March 31University of Dayton Boll Theatre presented with University of Dayton Arts Series

Powerful Irish duo

Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill

8 PM Friday, March 27, Victoria Theatre

Two one-of-a-kind jazz performances

Celebrating Billy Strayhorn:Ellington’s and Strayhorn’s finest songs

Bill Charlap Trio8 PM Saturday, April 11

Dayton Art Institute Renaissance Auditorium

Two extraordinary ensembles

Terell Stafford Quintet & Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra

8 PM Saturday, April 18Stivers School for the Arts Centennial Hall

for awealthy widow!

228-3630www.ticketcenterstage.com

www.daytonopera.org

The Merry Widow

MARCH 28, APRIL 3 & 5, 2009Schuster Center

Franz Léhar

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PRINCIPAL SPONSOROpera Guild of Dayton

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GALLERIES & MUSEUMSBOONSHOFT MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY

2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton 275-7431Thru 5/3 Strange Matter: Study of high-tech materi-als that have made their way from the space programto the “stuff” of everyday life.

THE CANNERY ART & DESIGN CENTRE

434 E. Third St., Dayton 228-2232Ongoing – Exhibits by local artists, including paint-ing, pottery, jewelry, sculpture and photography.“First Friday” open houses. Stroll the galleryspaces, view works by local artists. 5 – 10 pm.

DAYTON ART INSTITUTE

458 Belmonte Park North, Dayton 223-5277Thru 5/31 - William Morris – Myth, Object and theAnimal: Works from one of America’s most giftedglass artists.Thru 4/12 - Kids as Curators – KidsExperiencenter Gallery: Curated by 5th and 6thgrade students from Dayton area schools, the exhibi-tion explores the theme of Ohio art and artists.Thru Fall 2009 - Exploring Art A to Z – KidsExperiencenter Gallery: Developed for kids from pre-K through 3rd grade. Introducing art to children using26 pieces from museum’s collection and area artists.Thru 4/5 - In the Glen – The Art of RobertWhitmore: Honoring the artistic legacy of this nativeson with nearly 60 works by this accomplishedpainter, printmaker and draughtsman.

DAYTON VISUAL ARTS CENTER

118 N. Jefferson St, Dayton 224-3822

GALLERY ST. JOHN

4400 Shakerstown Rd., Dayton Thru 4/14 – Moments in Time: Watercolor and oilpaintings by Charles P. Wanda, SM.

RIKE CENTER GALLERY300 College Park, Dayton 299-3261Thru 4/22 – Horvath Student Exhibition

ROSEWOOD ART CENTER

2655 Olson Dr., Kettering 296-2944Thru 5/1 – Zachary Orcutt, sculpture; SimonHuesbeck, painting

DAYTON HISTORY

1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 293-2841Ongoing Tours of Hawthorn Hill - Tours are conduct-ed on Wed’s and Sat}s for those who have madeadvance, prepaid reservations.

GOLOKA GALLERIES (Oregon Division) 521 E. 5th St, Dayton 278-6745Thru 4/30 - “OROBORUS,” - An exhibition of sculp-ture and assemblage by Chicago sculpture and per-formance artist Bradley Cahill.

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ART GALLERIES

300 College Park, Dayton 229-4214 or 4254

Thru 5/1 – “Assemblage” –Group exhibit by six Univ.Of Dayton faculty members. Marianist Hall LearningSpace. 229-5585Thru 4/30 – “The Fairest of All” – Jan Oliver exhibitsthat depicts Mary, Mother of Jesus. Roesch Library.229-4214Thru 6/14 – “Dayton At Bat!” – Rare baseball memo-rabilia from the collections of Si Burick and MiriamJacobs. 229-4221Thru 10/31 – Honors Program Art Exhibition. AlumniHall. 229-4615

WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERIES

Robert & Elaine Stein GalleryA132 Creative Arts Center 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton 775-2978Thru 5/3 Ruth Miller: Paintings and Works on Paper.

MUSIC, THEATRE, DANCE, EVENTS3/31 TueCityfolk: Lo Cor de la Plana 8pm Six-man vocalensemble from France that sings ancient church-rootedmusic in the disappearing language of Occitan.Kennedy Union Boll Theatre, Univer. of Dayton 496-3863Woodwind Chamber Music 7:30 pm Sears RecitalHall, University of Dayton 229-2787

4/1 WedDoubt, A Parable 8pm The battle for truth between anun and priest was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize forDrama and the Best Play Tony Award. Thru 4/5 TheLoft Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton 228-3630

4/2 ThuPiano Fest 7pm Sears Recital Hall, University ofDayton 229-2787Vectren Just Jazz Series: Wilbert Longmire 5:30-8:30pm Vocalist and guitarist covers the genres ofpop, jazz, R&B and the blues. Dayton Art Institute,Shaw Gothic Cloister, 458 Belmonte Park North,Dayton 223-5277Doubt, A Parable 8pm (See above)

4/3 FriThe Merry Widow 8pm Dayton Opera presents thisengaging operetta - eligible women, gorgeous men,can-can girls, and champagne in Belle Epoque Parisand the world-famous Maxim’s! Sung in English. Also4/5. Schuster Center, One W. Second St., Dayton 228-3630Doubt, A Parable 8pm (See 4/1)Cityfolk: Contra Dance Party 6:30pmVicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two Woman Show 7pmA mixture of stand-up comedy, music and observationsabout real life. Clark State PAC, 300 S. Fountain Ave.,Springfield 328-3874First Friday Gallery Open Houses 5-10pm Stroll thegallery spaces, view works by local artists, meet ourlocal artists and enjoy free wine and cheese. OregonArts District, Downtown Dayton

4/4 Sat“St. John’s Passion” 7pm Work by Bach usesChrist’s recitations, as well as those of Peter andPontius Pilate, and solos, to comment on the emotionaland spiritual meaning of events described in the Bible.

Performed by the Dayton Philharmonic with theChamber Choir and guest soloists. WestminsterPresbyterian Church, 125 N Wilkinson St., Dayton 228-3630Doubt, A Parable 8pm (See 4/1)Stella Luna 1 and 3:30pm A coming-of-age storyabout a baby fruit bat, separated from her motherbefore she learns to fly and adopted by a family of birdsproves that being different doesn’t mean you can’t befriends. Also 4/5 Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.,Dayton 228-3630Chives 10am-noon Get tips on how to grow thisabundant herb. Carriage Hill MetroParkArts Gala ’09 6:30pm An evening of music, theatre,art, themed dining rooms and a silent auction to benefitart scholarships for local WSU students. Black-tieoptional. WSU Creative Arts Center, 3640 Col. GlennHwy., Dayton 775-5512Litter Bugs Me 11am–2pm Learn how to protect ourplanet and why recycling is so important. Presented bythe Montgomery County Solid Waste District.Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeeseParkway, Dayton 275-7431Rail & Steam Society Train Run Noon-4pm DaytonHistory, Carillon Park, 1000 Carillon, Dayton 293-2841SunWatch Lecture Series 10:30am: HopewellArchaeoastronomy and Geomancy: New DiscoveriesUsing LiDAR by Dr. William F. Romain, ResearchAssociate, OSU Newark Earthworks Center.SunWatch Indian Village, 2301 W. River Rd., Dayton268-8199

4/5 SunThe Merry Widow 3pm Final Performance (See 3/28)Afternoon Musicales 2pm Dayton Chamber Choraledirected by Gwen Brubaker. Admission is free butdonations are appreciated. Dayton Art Institute, NCRRenaissance Auditorium, 456 Belmonte Park North,Dayton 223-5277Springfield Youth Orchestras 3pm Three YouthOrchestras will appear - Youth Symphony, YouthChamber Orchestra and Youth String Ensemble. FreeAdmission. Clark State PAC, 300 S. Fountain Ave.,Springfield 328-3874Doubt, A Parable 2pm (See 4/1)Stella Luna 1 and 3:30pm (see 4/4)Dayton Art Institute Public Lecture 10am “WilliamMorris:Time Traveler.” Lecture by Dr. James Yood, arthistorian at the Art Institute of Chicago.

4/7 TueWSU Presidential Lecture Series: Stephen Dubner7:30pm Journalist, blogger, award-winning author andco-author of the bestseller Freakonomics. WSUStudent Union, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton 775-5740

4/8 WedTrombone Studio 8pm WSU Creative Arts Center,Concert Hall, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy. 775-5544 Side Street Strutters 7:30pm Colorful costumes, tapdancing, novelty numbers and rare instrumental fea-tures help capture America’s greatest musical heritage– JAZZ! Centerville Performing Arts Center, CentervilleHigh School 859-9811