Tag Archives: Dayton Playhouse

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK Runs Nov. 6-15

DPH_Diary of Anne Frank logoTHE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
Dayton Playhouse
Nov. 6-15
Dayton

Directed by Jennifer Lockwood

Cast: Skylar Coker as Anne Frank, Mike Beerbower as Otto Frank, Heather Martin as Edith Frank, Emily Church as Margot Frank, Jill Lynott as Melp, Jack Lewis as Peter Van Daan, Sandy Coleman as Mrs. Van Daan, Ray Geiger as Mr. Van Daan, Rick Johnson as Mr. Kraler & Richard Young as Mr. Dussel

Young Anne’s diary, written while her family and four other Jewish citizens hid from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic, was published in expurgated form in 1947. This 1997 Broadway revival revised the script, adding revealing truths about Anne’s budding sexuality and the household’s tensions, plus harrowing details about the occupants’ ultimate fates.

  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 6-7 at 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 8 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Nov. 13-14 at 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 15 at 2pm

Official page |

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Auditions Announced for THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Dayton Playhouse

DPH_logoDayton Playhouse is pleased to announce auditions for THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. Director Jennifer Lockwood has recruited a talented production staff including Brian Sharp (Asst. Director), Jared Mola (Stage Mgr.), Chris Newman (Scenic Designer) and J. Gary Thompson (Sound Designer).

Auditions are Sept. 21 & 22 at 7pm at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH 45414

Production dates are Nov. 6-15.

This powerful new adaptation, based on The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank, not only shows us the day-to-day lives of 8 people forced into hiding in an attic for over 2 years but provides glimpses of who they were before. Most of all, we see and hear Anne’s natural teenage struggles with parents, identity and romance and her dreams for both her future and a more peaceful, compassionate world.

The director will be seeking to fill the following roles:

  • Anne – 13-15, energetic, romantic, very smart but not always thoughtful
  • Otto – 50’s, Anne’s father, patient, generous to a fault, educated
  • Edith – 40-50, Anne’s mother, more retiring than her outgoing daughter, worn down by years of upheaval and fear
  • Margot – 15-18, Anne’s older sister, very like her mother, shy, marvels at her sister’s exuberance in the face of this ordeal
  • Peter Van Daan – 16-19, quiet and intelligent, has a temper but also a sweet, appreciative side
  • Mrs. Van Daan – 40’s, pushy and spoiled, she romanticizes the past to keep from thinking about the present
  • Mr. Van Daan – 50’s, quick to take charge but also to back down when challenged, quick-tempered
  • Mr. Dussel – Mature, curmudgeon, uncomfortable around groups and especially children
  • Meip – 20’s, sweet young woman, devoted to Mr. Frank and his family
  • Mr. Kraler – Mature, businessman

Audition scenes will be posted on Facebook in the next couple of weeks. Please don’t worry about memorizing, but familiarize yourself with the scenes if possible.

To the young ladies auditioning for Anne: You are encouraged to read the book The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank so you have a feel for who Anne was prior to the time of the play. It will also help you place her monologues in context. You will be asked to read some monologues at auditions. Again, don’t worry about memorizing. I will probably give you some direction and worrying about words will just get in your way.

A final note about the rehearsal schedule: The 8 primary characters are onstage for most of the show. Even when they are not active in a scene, they are usually in view. This means once initial blocking is done in the first couple weeks; everyone will be called for most rehearsals. Anne is always on stage and will be called for all rehearsals. The plan is for rehearsals beginning at 7 PM Monday-Thursday through mid-October with possible Friday rehearsals after that.

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CAROUSEL Runs Sept. 11-27

DPH_Carousel logoCAROUSEL
Dayton Playhouse
Sept. 11-27
Dayton

Directed by Brian Sharp
Music directed by Ron Kindell
Choreographed by Paige Hanshaw

Cast: Jeff Sams as Billy Bigelow, Adrienne (Adee) McFarland as Julie Jordan, Krissy McKim-Barker as Carrie Pipperidge, Eric Thompson as Enoch Snow, Janice Codispoti as Mrs. Mullin, Elana Elmore as Nettie Fowler, J. Gary Thompson as Jigger Craigin, Rick Flynn as David Bascombe, Brooke Netzley as Louise, Shanna Camacho as Heavenly Friend, Brad Bishop as Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon &  Hannah Gray as Margaret Snow
Snow Children: Elainah Skaroupka, Danikah Skaroupka, Kylah Skaroupka, Ryan Gibson, Seth Gibson & Caleb Wourms
Graduating Class: Tyler Smith, Jamie Pavlofsky, Andrea Hansgen & Carrin Ragland
Ensemble: Leah Sams, Karla Enix, Marabeth Klejna, Rebekah Skaroupka, Kerry Simpson, Judi Early, Patricia Dipasquale-Krul, John-Michael Vanover, Tyler Henry &  William Boatwright

This 1945 musical revolves around carousel barker, Billy Bigelow, whose romance with millworker Julie Jordan comes at the price of both their jobs. He attempts a robbery to provide for Julie and their unborn child; after it goes wrong, he is given a chance to make things right. A secondary plot line deals with millworker Carrie Pipperidge and her romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow.

  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 11-12 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 13 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 18-19 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 20 at 2pm
  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 25-26 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 27 at 2pm

Official page | Facebook event |

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Cast Announced for CAROUSEL. at Dayton Playhouse

DPH_logoDirected Brian Sharp and the Dayton Playhouse are excited to announce the cast of CAROUSEL.

  • Billy Bigelow – Jeff Sams
  • Julie Jordan – Adrienne (Adee) McFarland
  • Carrie Pipperidge – Krissy McKim-Barker
  • Enoch Snow – Eric Thompson
  • Mrs. Mullin – Janice Codispoti
  • Nettie Fowler – Elana Elmore
  • Jigger Craigin – J. Gary Thompson
  • David Bascombe – Rick Flynn
  • Louise – Brooke Netzley
  • Heavenly Friend – Shanna Camacho
  • Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon – Brad Bishop
  • Margaret Snow – Hannah Gray
  • Snow Children – Elainah Skaroupka, Danikah Skaroupka, Kylah Skaroupka, Ryan Gibson, Seth Gibson, Caleb Wourms
  • Graduating Class – Tyler Smith, Jamie Pavlofsky, Andrea Hansgen, Carrin Ragland
  • Ensemble – Leah Sams, Karla Enix, Marabeth Klejna, Rebekah Skaroupka, Kerry Simpson, Judi Early, Patricia Dipasquale-Krul, John-Michael Vanover, Tyler Henry, William Boatwright

For CAROUSEL.the music is directed by Ron Kindell with choreography by Paige Hanshaw. Performance dates are Sept. 11-27. For more information visit http://wordpress.thedaytonplayhouse.com.

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FutureFest 2015 Runs July 17-19

DPH_Future Feset 2015 logoFutureFest 2015
Dayton Playhouse
July 17-19
Dayton

  • Fri, July 17 at 8pm HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO [Fully staged]
  • Sat, July 18 at 10am BOOK OF HOURS [Staged reading]
  • Sat, July 18 at 3pm RETURN TO GOODNIGHT [Staged reading]
  • Sat, July 18 at 8pm THE CONSUL, THE TRAMP, AND AMERICA’S SWEETHEART [Fully staged]
  • Sun, July 19 at 10am BLUE OVER YOU [Staged reading]
  • Sun, July 19 at 3pm SMOKE  [Fully staged]

Official page |

HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO by Rich Amada
Directed by Fran Pesch
Friday, July 17 at 8pm
[Full staging] Tom Azuric is a radio humorist who has toiled for years in various stations around the country until he has finally made it to the biggest U.S. radio market of them all – New York City. However, judging from his demeanor, his family can sense that something is terribly wrong. Despite his professional success, Tom, it seems, has failed to fulfill a promise to his deceased mother, leaving him feeling terribly inadequate. That feeling, coupled with the pressure his boss is putting on him to engage in some sleazy politics, is pushing Tom to the breaking point.

Cast: J. Gary Thompson as Tom Azuric, Terry Larson as Ginny Azuric, Cydnie Hampton as Kimberly Azuric, Cynthia Karns as Marilyn Froling, K. L. Storer as Wally Froling, Shawn Hooks as Bud Peel, Kathleen Durig as Mom & Annie Pesch as Sylvia Sanchez

BOOK OF HOURS – by Thomas Klocke
Directed by Brennan Paulin
Saturday, July 18 at 10am
[Staged reading] Margins, decorative marginalia, marginalized people.  Every connotation of the word is broached when one 14th century Manuscript Illuminator stands his ground for artistic integrity against the heavy handed censorship of the Church which commissioned the handmade BOOK OF HOURS devotional.  To tell the story, the play crosses centuries and oceans, from the Biblical times of Abraham and his sons to contemporary gay street hustlers just trying to survive in the margins of an uncaring city.

Cast: William Scarborough as Zak (Isaac), Joe Meyer as Fugitive Green, Richard Young as Illuminator, Amy Taint as Angel, Chuck Larkowski as International Style & Matthew Smith as Izzie (Ishmael)

RETURN TO GOODNIGHT by Jared Robert Strange
Directed by Debra Kent
Saturday, July 18 at 3pm
[Staged reading] Irene Deckard has lost her father, but she may also lose her mind fulfilling his final wishes, which involve bringing his remains from Montana all the way down to Goodnight, Texas, and in the company of her gay ex-husband Casper, no less. It’s all part of a promise they made to her father a long time ago, a promise that will bring them together for the first time in thirty years to face old demons, discover new truths, and maybe – just maybe – rekindle their long-dead friendship.

Cast: Cheryl Mellen as Irene Deckard & Rick Flynn as Casper Kelly

THE CONSUL, THE TRAMP, AND AMERICA’S SWEETHEART by John Morogiello
Directed by Jim Lockwood
Saturday, July 18 at 8pm 
[Full staging] On the eve of World War II, Georg Gyssling, the nazi consul to Hollywood, confronts Mary Pickford, the silent film star and co-founder of United Artists, to stop production on Charlie Chaplin’s controversial first talkie, The Great Dictator. Gyssling succeeds until war is declared and the movie is needed to buck up the allies.

Cast: Maggie Carroll as Miss Hollombe, David Hallowren as Georg Gyssling, Debra Strauss as Mary Pickford & Matthew Lindsay as Charlie Chaplin

BLUE OVER YOU by Dan Noonan
Directed by Saul Caplan
Sunday, July 19 at 10am
[Staged reading] Where’s Mitzi? What happened to Mitzi?! Francis, an enchanting high school drama teacher, comes home to discover that his wife, Mitzi, is missing. Did she leave because of his infantile behavior, has she run off with the hunky maintenance man, or is something much darker at work here? Join this song-and-dance man as he tries to find Mitzi and woo her back.

Cast: Robb Willoughby as Francis

SMOKE by Gloria Bond Clunie
Directed by Geoff Burkman
Sunday, July 19 at 3pm
[Full staging] In the drama SMOKE, country store owner Ora Rakestraw wants no parts of the mysterious Wallace Johnson when he descends upon her tiny southern town to organize tobacco workers.  It’s the 1960’s— and though Kennedy orders the Surgeon General to investigate smoking— tobacco is king in Carolina.   The Marlboro Man, Lucky Strikes, and Camels are Kool because they put food on the table for her customers.  As promises are made and secrets revealed, love collides with small town politics in one hot, tumultuous summer!

Cast: Megan Cooper as Ora Rakestraw, Ray Geiger as Wallace Johnson, Dodie Lockwood as Mama “Liz” Sommerville & Mike Rousculp as Sheriff Orville Hayes

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