Announcing the 2026-27 In-School Performances!
Find the descriptions and details below. Schedule form includes pricing information and specific available dates. Info for the 2025-26 season may be found further down the page.
Schedule In-School Performances 2026-27
Kick-Off Performance
MAN & (MUSE) MACHINES
Presented by musician & storyteller Terrell X
Experience Man & (Muse) Machines with acclaimed beatboxer, songwriter and storyteller Terrell X. Terrell guides audiences through a fast-paced, interactive journey through the evolution of beatboxing and the influence of hip-hop culture on music, technology and the world. Blending call-and-response with looping and effects, he will build music from scratch with you—transforming voice and rhythm into dynamic improvisations that showcase the art form’s innovations and the human body’s limitless possibilities!
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Sept 10–Oct 2, 2026. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts: Music; Social and Emotional Learning
• Technical Requirements: Coming soon!
IN THE MAKING
Presented by Dayton Dance Initiative
In the Making invites students into the living moment where art begins. Dancer Jennifer Sydor and visual artist Hannah Kasper create together in real time—listening, responding and shaping possibility into form. Students may also be prompted to make suggestions that influence the work. As movement and image emerge side by side, students witness how ideas shift and resolve across disciplines.
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Oct 2026–May 2027. Please see the scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts: Dance and Visual Art; Social and Emotional Learning
• Technical Requirements: Coming soon!
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING
Presented by Dayton Opera
In his 1860 poem, “I Hear America Singing,” Walt Whitman heard not a single anthem but “varied carols” of the laborers, mothers and pioneers who built a nation. Dayton Opera Artists in Residence take this vision of America into the 21st Century through Broadway and opera, from Oklahoma! to Ragtime. Through call-and-response, audiences join a living poem full of the melodies of a people in constant motion, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in discord—but always singing.
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Oct 26–Nov 20, 2026. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts: Music & Theatre, American History, English Language Arts
• Technical Requirements:
1. A cleared, well-lit 20’ by 20’ performance space
2. A recently tuned piano and bench or a full-size, 88 key electronic keyboard on a stand with a chair
3. A microphone on a stand
4. Access to a nearby power outlet
5. Room-temperature bottled water for five
6. A microphone for Q & A
7. Private area, such as a dressing room or classroom, for artists to change within close proximity to the stage (restrooms are not adequate for changing)
8. Access to restroom
9. Load-in door close to the performance area, accessible to roll cart/equipment
IMPORTANT: The company will arrive 30-40 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival.
LISTEN UP!
Presented by improv performers Jake Lockwood and We Bring the Funny
Get ready to laugh out loud as Jake Lockwood and the team from We Bring the Funny use improv to demonstrate the importance of listening in this highly interactive performance. Stressing the value of teamwork and being present, these comedic performers will guide the audience down a hilarious path of creative collaboration, illuminating the keys to better communication along the way!
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Dec 2026 and Feb–Mar 2027. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts: Speaking and Listening; Fine Arts: Theatre
• Technical Requirements: Coming soon!
An optional in-school workshop—also from Jake Lockwood and We Bring the Funny:
Heads Up, Devices Down!
We have to talk to each other? Scary.
Using the basic tools of Improv, Jake and the team lead your group in exercises that will increase confidence through active engagement with the world around them. This deeper dive encourages participants to learn new skills together and recapture the joy of conversation!
Suitable for individual classrooms, Muse clubs, drama clubs, etc. Muse will work with you to schedule a date and time during or after school.
Find additional details on the scheduling form!
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Step into a magical forest where love, mischief and mistaken identity collide. Young lovers, mischievous fairies and a group of amateur actors find their worlds turned upside down in a single night. This abridged interactive production by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company brings Shakespeare’s most playful comedy to life!
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates March–May 2027. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts: Literature; Fine Arts: Theatre
• Technical Requirements:
1. An open performance area of no less than 20’ wide by 20’ deep
2. Access to a nearby power outlet
3. Private area or restrooms for actors to change
IMPORTANT: The performers will arrive 30-60 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival.
Schedule In-School Performances 2026-27
2025-26 In-School Performances
Find the descriptions and details below. Schedule form includes pricing information and specific available dates:
Schedule In-School Performances 2025-26
Kick-Off Performance
HYPE
Presented by magician & mentalist Noah Sonie
Noah’s infectious charm and disarming wit will make YOU the focal point as he delves into the incredible power of the human mind. Witness feats that defy logic as Noah seamlessly blends telepathy and psychological intuition, creating moments of both wonder and amusement. Prepare to have your thoughts read, your predictions anticipated, and your reality challenged in a way you never thought possible.
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Sept 8-30, 2025. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts: Theatre; Social and Emotional Learning
• Technical Requirements:
1. An open performance space of no less thatn 20′ wide by 20′ deep
2. Cleanly swept floors with no nails or protrusions
3. Access to a nearby power outlet
4. Music stand, table or podium
5. Bottled water
6. Private area to change (restrooms are not adequate for changing)
7. If the performance is in a theatre with an orchestra pit: Noah would like access to a projection screen (if there is a retractable screen already hanging on stage, that will work nicely) and access to an HDMI port that will allow him to project onto the screen.
IMPORTANT: The artist will arrivew 30 to 60 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance area upon arrival.
MARCH TO THE BEAT
Presented by Dayton Opera
Embark on an interactive journey of musical discovery with Dayton Opera’s Artists-in-Residence! Through an engaging exploration of opera and musical theater, students will experience how music connects to powerful emotions, drives dramatic storytelling and empowers the human voice. They will discover the elements of drama, learn how to express themselves through song and experience the exhilarating capacity of music to inspire and change. From the refrains of “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro” from The Barber of Seville to Carmen’s “Habanera” to “Something’s Coming” (West Side Story) and “How Far I’ll Go” (Moana), our journey of self-discovery culminates with “This is Me” (The Greatest Showman).
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Nov 3-21, 2025. Please see the scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: History, English Language Arts, Fine Arts: Music & Theatre
• Technical Requirements:
1. A cleared, well-lit 20’ by 20’ performance space
2. A recently tuned piano and bench or a full-size, 88 key electronic keyboard on a stand with a chair
3. A microphone on a stand
4. Access to a nearby power outlet
5. Room-temperature bottled water for five
6. A microphone for Q & A
7. Private area, such as a dressing room or classroom, for artists to change within close proximity to the stage (restrooms are not adequate for changing)
8. Access to restroom
9. Load-in door close to the performance area, accessible to roll cart/equipment
IMPORTANT: The company will arrive 30-40 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival.
THE DAYTON FUNK LEGACY
Presented by musicians LaFrae Sci and Deron Bell
Discover the electrifying history of Dayton funk music, a youth-driven cultural phenomenon that shaped a generation. This interactive performance explores iconic Dayton funk songs, influential artists and the “Four Funky Fundamentals” of groove, imagination, identity and futurism. This experience combines storytelling, live music and audience participation to inspire a new appreciation for Dayton’s musical legacy and the power of collective creativity!
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Feb 9-27, 2026. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Music; American History; Social and Emotional Learning
• Technical Requirements:
1. An open performance area of no less than 20′ wide by 20′ deep
2. Cleanly swept floors with no nails or protrusions
3. Access to a nearby power outlet
4. Bottled water for 2
5. Have a microphone on hand, if possible, for Q & A at the end.
6. Small table
7. Help to load-in during arrival. A flatbed cart would be helpful, if available.
IMPORTANT: The company will arrive 60-75 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival
MOVING BEYOND THE TEXT
Presented by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Rooted in oral traditions, African American writers have profoundly shaped American literature. Their voices have driven social change and enriched the cultural fabric of America, weaving stories that reflect the nation’s history, struggles, triumphs, cultural expressions and universal aspects of the human condition. By blending African American literature with contemporary dance, we transform written text into a visual language, deepening the audience’s connection to these narratives in ways words alone cannot. Photo courtesy of DCDC.
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates Feb—May, 2026. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: Fine Arts: Dance and Music; English Language Arts; American History
• Technical Requirements:
1. An open performance area of no less than 20’ wide by 20’ deep.
2. Cleanly swept floors with no nails or protrusions as the performers are in bare feet
3. The entire stage and backstage areas shall be swept and damp-mopped to remove any debris
4. All stage wing areas need to be cleared of any objects/obstacles
5. If presented on a stage, provide general lighting
6. Access to a nearby power outlet
7. A 10-20 foot, three-prong extension cord
8. A sound system with amplifier and full-range speakers capable of Bluetooth connection and/or iPhone/iPad functionality (please inform Muse Machine if this system is unavailable)
9. Hand-held microphone and mic stand
10. Bottled water (non-carbonated) for 14 dancers
11. Provisions made for parking spaces close to the performance area
12. Private area, such as a dressing room or classroom, for dancers to change (restrooms are not adequate for changing)
IMPORTANT: The company will arrive 30-60 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival.
ROMEO AND JULIET
Presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Witness the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Follow the feuding Montagues and Capulets, the secret romance of Romeo and Juliet and the consequences of their forbidden love. This abridged script features engaging narration and opportunities for student participation, bringing Shakespeare’s iconic tale to life in an unforgettable way.
• Scheduling: Available on selected dates March—May 2026. Please see scheduling form for specific dates.
• Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts: Literature; Fine Arts: Theatre and Music
• Technical Requirements:
1. An open performance area of no less than 20’ wide by 20’ deep
2. Access to a nearby power outlet
3. Private area or restrooms for actors to change
IMPORTANT: The performers will arrive 30-60 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space upon arrival.
Schedule In-School Performances 2025-26
Previous In-School Performances Archive
In-School Performances 2024-25
Performance Space Survey
Advisors: You may have already been asked to respond to a very brief, multiple choice survey about the space where your in-school performances occur. If you have not already taken that survey, you may do so below. We are adding exciting elements to the in-school performances and this information will be tremendously helpful for our new shows – thank you!
The last question will direct you to a particular worksheet. This will be an interesting task for two reliable students with a sizable tape measure and they can complete it in approximately a class period. Use the links below to open and print the worksheet as suggested by your survey. After your students complete the worksheet, you (or they) may conveniently submit measurements below.