Announcing out-of-school performances 2023-24!
Check out the offerings below—a diverse collection of the most exciting performances from the best arts organizations in town—with schedule details and brief descriptions. From these options, create a season for your own students and reserve your selections. There are a limited number of tickets available for most shows. Robin will reply to your reservation form to confirm actual ticket availability and numbers.
Prices and specific performance times for each date appear on the reservation form:
RESERVE 2023-24 OUT-OF-SCHOOL TICKETS
Muse Machine Musical: 9 to 5
• Presented by Muse Machine at the Victoria Theatre on Jan 11-14, 2024
• Recommended for ages: middle school and older
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: Dec 12, 2023
When three workmates are pushed to boiling point by their egotistical boss, they concoct a plan to turn the tables. Will the women manage to reform their office – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit? Inspired by the hit movie, this hilarious musical is about teaming up, standing up and taking care of business!
“I am beyond thrilled to the response to 9 to 5 The Musical,” said composer and lyricist Dolly Parton. “The overwhelmingly positive fan reaction tickles every rhinestone on my body!”
One of the largest musical productions in the state stars an enormous cast of young people from across the Miami Valley. The Muse Machine musical has been praised by The Dayton Daily News as “a performing arts all-star effort,” while The Oakwood Register has called it “an evening of true theatrical joy…”
Enrichment Guide
In Good Company
• Presented by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company at the Victoria Theatre on Sat, Oct 14 at 7:30pm and Sun, Oct 15 at 4:00pm.
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Sept 19, 2023
Know us by the company we keep… DCDC combines forces with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance from Denver for a special performance that includes Jacob’s Ladder by hip hop legend, Dr. Rennie Harris!
To Kill A Mockingbird
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Tues, Oct 17, 2023 and Wed, Oct 18, 2023
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion: contains racially explicit language and discussion of violence.
• Estimated run time: 2:35
• Drop date: Sept 12, 2023
Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed new adaptation of the coming-of-age story of two children as they grow to understand their father — Atticus Finch — a lawyer defending a black man falsely accused of a crime.
The Black Violin Experience Tour
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Tues, Oct 24, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Sept 19, 2023
This violin duo combined their classical training and love for hip-hop music, establishing a genre-bending sound that is described as “classical boom”. The Impossible Tour spreads the message that anything is possible and there are no limits to what one can achieve, regardless of circumstance!
Dracula: Bloodlines
• Presented by the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Victoria Theatre on Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Sept 26, 2022
In 15th-century Transylvania, the merciless Vlad the Impaler transforms into the infamous Dracula. Eerie choreography and an original score set the scene for a ghastly Halloween weekend!
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
• Presented by Dayton Opera and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Victoria Theatre on Sat, Nov 4, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; contains stylized scenes of violence and assault.
• Estimated run time: 2:45
• Drop date: Oct 3, 2023
Sweeney Todd, a man with a mysterious past, returns to dark and gritty London and joins forces with Mrs. Lovett, the unhinged proprietress of a failing pie shop. Together they develop a spine-tingling plot to exact revenge. When the lights go down and the curtain goes up, you won’t dare look away. Students are invited to dress in Halloween costumes for this special Muse Night on the Town!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company at the the Otto M. Budig Theatre, 1195 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202 on Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 11 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Oct 10, 2023
Love is magic and mayhem. Two young lovers flee to the forest, where feuding fairies surprise them with love triangles, potions, a troupe of bumbling thespians and a donkey head! A midwinter twist brings whimsical warmth and adventures to this tale perfect for the whole family.
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Oct 10, 2023
Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony is widely celebrated as the peak of his instrumental music. The program also includes Beethoven’s Leonore Overture from Fidelio, Strauss’ Second Horn Concerto and Schubert’s Entr’acte No. 3 from Rosamunde.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical!
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Victoria Theatre on Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 7:30pm and Thurs, Nov 16, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 5 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:00
• Drop date: Oct 4, 2022
The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Celebrate the holidays with the show The New York Times calls “100 times better than any bedtime story!”
Straight No Chaser: Sleighin’ It Tour
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Tues, Nov 28 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Oct 17, 2023
Not your traditional male a cappella group, Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that moves people in a fundamental sense… and with a sense of humor!
Miracle On 34th Street: The Musical
• Presented by La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave, Springboro 45066 on Fri, Dec 1 and Fri, Dec 8. Arrive 5:30-6:00pm for meal; show ends at approximately 8:45pm.
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time 1:10 (Arrive 5:30-6:00pm for meal; show ends at approximately 8:45pm.)
• Drop date: Oct 24, 2023
When it turns out that a Macy’s Santa may, in fact, be the real Kris Kringle, a wave of love spreads across New York City that melts even the most cynical hearts. A holiday classic based on the movie of the same name from the writer of The Music Man! Price includes a buffet meal.
Florencia En El Amazonas
• Presented by the Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD on Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at Regal Cinemas: Fairfield Commons (Beavercreek)
• Recommended for ages 8 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:10
• Drop date: Nov 7, 2023
Daniel Catán’s 1996 opera tells the enchanting story of a Brazilian opera diva who returns to her homeland to perform at the legendary opera house and to search for her lost lover, who has vanished into the jungle.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Victoria Theatre on Sun, Dec 10, 2023 at 2:00pm
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: 2:00
• Drop date: Oct 31, 2023
The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ and a violinist, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event!
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Victoria Theatre on Fri, Dec 15, 2023 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: 1:30
• Drop date: Nov 7, 2023
Cirque Dreams Holidaze wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. Featuring an ensemble of aerial circus acts, jugglers, breath-catching acrobatics and much more, the Dayton Daily News proclaims, “There’s no way the stunts I witnessed on stage actually happened as most of them aren’t humanly possible!”
The Nutcracker
• Presented by Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 2:30pm and Sat, Dec 16 at 2:30pm
• Recommended for ages 5 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Nov 7, 2023
Join little Clara as she drifts into restless slumber, where she meets the sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. An enormous cast dances to live music performed by the Dayton Philharmonic in this holiday tradition!
Swan Lake
• Presented by Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Jan 16, 2024
Under the spell of a sorcerer, the swan princess Odette spends her days as a swan swimming on a lake of tears and her nights in her beautiful human form, confronted with magical tricks to keep her from her prince.
Carmen
• Presented by the Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD on Sat, Feb 17, 2024 at Bethel Local Schools Auditorium (Tipp City)
• Recommended for ages 8 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:52
• Drop date: Jan 16, 2024
Bold, uninhibited and strong-willed, Carmen lives life on her own terms. She’s the woman who everyone wants — but she wants nothing but freedom. Carmen’s determination to be “born free and to die free” is what makes her irresistible — but in love, does anything come without a price?
On Broadway!
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 2:30pm
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Feb 6, 2024
The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Opera Artists-in-Residence perform songs and overtures from some of the best musicals on Broadway!
Hadestown
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Wed, Mar 13 at 7:30pm and Thurs, Mar, 14 at 7:30pm, 2024
• Recommended for ages 8 and up.
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: Feb 6, 2024
Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. The winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience, intertwining two mythic tales on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back!
Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)
• Presented by the Human Race Theatre Company on Thurs, Feb 22, 2024 at 8:00pm and Tues, Feb 27, 2024 at 7:00pm at The Loft Theatre
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:30
• Drop date: TBA
Dare to be whisked away in a story of the high seas and all corners of the globe, populated by flying wombats, giant sea turtles and a monstrous man-eating octopus. Shipwrecked examines how far we’re willing to blur the line between fact and fiction to leave our mark on the world.
Drum Tao
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Victoria Theatre on Wed, Mar 20, 2024
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: 2:00
• Drop date: March 5, 2024
An athletic ensemble in dazzling costumes meets explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography. The performers live and train in the mountains of Japan, reaching the highest level of virtuosity after years of intense study. Drum Tao presents a young and vibrantly modern take on a traditional art form.
Total Eclipse: The Sun And The Planets
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sat, April 6, 2024 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: March 5, 2024
A celestial celebration honoring the April total solar eclipse! The evening begins with Nielsen’s Helios Overture before Holst’s The Planets takes center stage. From powerful to eerie and ethereal, the work has served as a source of inspiration for composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Mozart’s exuberant Piano Concert No. 16. is also featured.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 14 and up with parental discretion: contains depictions of violence and domestic violence.
• Estimated run time: 2:45
• Drop date: March 5, 2024
Celebrate the unstoppable woman that dared to dream fiercely, shatter barriers and conquer the world—against all odds. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters. The New York Times cheers, “I’ve rarely heard an audience with this mighty a roar.”
Tosca
• Presented by Dayton Opera and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sat, Apr 20, 2024 at 7:30pm
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; contains stylized depiction of torture, murder and suicide.
• Estimated run time: 2:45
• Drop date: March 19, 2024
A feast for both the eye and ear, Puccini’s Tosca is a thrilling roller-coaster ride of political intrigue, passion and betrayal, filled with some of the most ravishing music in opera.
Disney’s The Lion King
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Thurs, May 2 at 7:30pm, Tues, May 7 at 7:30pm and Wed, May 8 at 7:30pm, 2024
• Recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: March 26, 2024
The young Simba flees the Pride Lands, leaving the life he knew behind, alongside a few unlikely friends. But when a desperate plea catches up to the prince, Simba must take on a formidable enemy and fulfill his destiny to be king. “The Lion King is a marvel, a theatrical achievement unrivaled in its beauty, brains and ingenuity.” —Variety
Reserve 2023-24 Out-Of-School Tickets
Middle school suggestions
These performances may be good choices for students in middle school (find details above and on the order form):
Muse Machine Musical
The Black Violin Experience Tour
Carmen
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Disney’s The Lion King
Dracula: Bloodlines
Drum Tao
Florencia En La Amazonas
Hadestown
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical!
In Good Company
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Miracle On 34th Street: The Musial
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony
The Nutcracker
On Broadway!
Swan Lake
Total Eclipse
Elementary school suggestions
These performances may be good choices for students in elementary school (find details above and on the order form):
Muse Machine Musical
The Black Violin Experience Tour
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Disney’s The Lion King
Dracula: Bloodlines
Drum Tao
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical!
In Good Company
Miracle On 34th Street: The Musial
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony
The Nutcracker
On Broadway!
Swan Lake
Total Eclipse
Literary connections
These performances are based on or inspired by books that may be familiar to your students:
Hadestown (based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (based on the book by Dr. Seuss)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (by William Shakespeare)
A Miracle On 34th Street (based on the novella by Valentine Davies)
To Kill A Mockingbird (based on the novel by Harper Lee)
Out-of-School Performances 2022-23
Muse Musical: The Little Mermaid
• Presented by Muse Machine at the Victoria Theatre on Jan 12-15, 2023
• Recommended for ages 5 and up
• Estimated run time 2:30
• Drop date: Dec 13, 2022
In a kingdom under the sea, a mermaid’s fascination for life on the surface drives her to make a bargain that jeopardizes more than anyone can imagine. A lovably bizarre collection of friends from below and above join in a comic musical adventure to save their worlds. The spectacle, song and dance of one of Disney’s most beloved tales comes to life on stage in The Little Mermaid! Starring an enormous cast of young people from across the Miami Valley, the Muse Machine musical has been praised by The Dayton Daily News as “a performing arts all-star effort,” while The Oakwood Register has called it “an evening of true theatrical joy… ”
Havana Nights
• Presented by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sat, Oct 1, 2022
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Sept 5, 2022
The sizzling Latino beat entices people to at once embrace and defy tradition, to loosen up and get a little crazy. Singer Camille Zamora joins the Mambo Kings for a fusion of classical Spanish with Afro-Cuban rhythms that will whisk you out of your seat to steamy Havana.
Charlie Parker’s Yardbird
• Presented by Dayton Opera & Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sun, Oct 9, 2022
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; includes references to drug use
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Sept 5, 2022
While the body of tormented bebop saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his ghost travels back to the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, where he struggles to complete his final masterpiece. Fusing classical and jazz styles into an intriguing mix, Charlie Parker’s Yardbird is a powerful expedition into the mind, heart, and personal purgatory of the jazz genius.
PhilharMonster
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Sun, Oct 23, 2021
• Recommended for ages 5-12
• Estimated run time: 1:00
• Drop date: Sept 19, 2022
Autumn wouldn’t be complete without a family trip downtown for PhilharMonster. Gasps, giggles, and costumes abound during this afternoon when everyone prepares for the hauntingly hilarious Halloween season. Before the concert, the DPO will provide activities and treats in the Wintergarden. Don’t miss this favorite Dayton annual event!
Deadline
• Presented by the Human Race Theatre Company at the Loft Theatre on Tues, Nov 8, 2022
• Recommended for ages 12 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: TBA
A world premiere comedy thriller! Two playwrights are hired to finish a famous mystery writer’s last play following his mysterious death. They find themselves literally sucked into the play, trapped in the very world they are trying to complete, where solving the mystery becomes a matter of life and death. Deadline is a bit of Clue, and a bit of Knives Out, and a lot of fun!
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• Presented by Dayton Ballet & Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Victoria Theatre on Sun, Oct 30, 2022
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Sept 27, 2022
October is the perfect setting for Dayton Ballet’s brand-new production of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. The haunting story of the Headless Horseman comes to life with Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones and the full ensemble of Dayton Ballet, featuring a brand-new original score, performed live by musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra!
Pretty Woman: The Musical
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Nov 1 & 2, 2022
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; includes sexual innuendo
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: Sept 27, 2022
One of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time is now on stage starring Broadway superstar Adam Pascal and rising star Olivia Valli! The musical features an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton.
Step Afrika
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Victoria Theatre on Wed, Nov 9, 2022
• Recommended for ages 5 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:00
• Drop date: Oct 4, 2022
Step Afrika! celebrates stepping and traditional African dances, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. Their performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation!
Sister Act
• Presented by Wright State University at WSU on Nov 11 & 12, 2022
• Recommended for ages 13 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:20
• Drop date: Oct 11, 2022
Brace yourselves for this celebration of the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. After witnessing a murder, Delores is placed under protective custody in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Symphonie fantastique
• Presented by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Nov 18, 2022
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Oct 18, 2022
Berlioz’s passion-propelled Symphonie fantastique is dazzling with fiery orchestral colors and effects! Emotions also run high in Shostakovich’s Concerto, which is guaranteed to leave you profoundly moved. Antoine Clark, a rising star among young American conductors, makes his Dayton debut
Legally Blonde: The Musical
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Nov 22 & 23, 2022
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; includes sexual innuendo
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: Oct 18, 2022
Based on the beloved movie, Legally Blonde: The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams and proves that you can be legally blonde and still the smartest person in the room.
Hometown Holiday / Amahl and the Night Visitors
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra & Dayton Opera at the Schuster Center on Fri, Dec 2, 2022
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Tues, Nov 1, 2021
The Dayton Philharmonic and Dayton Opera join forces to present a holiday spectacular that is sure to fill our hearts with the spirit of the season. On the first half of the program, the Dayton Philharmonic performs a selection of seasonal favorites. After intermission, Amahl And The Night Visitors brings to life the story of three mysterious kings who are following a star to bring gifts to a wondrous child in a fully-staged, brand new production created for Dayton Opera!
White Christmas
• Presented by LaComedia Dinner Theatre (Springboro) on Dec 2 & 9, 2022
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 3:30-4:00 including meal (actual show runs approximately 2:00)
• Drop date: Oct 25, 2022
Based on the beloved film, the story features a pair of army veterans who follow a duo of singing sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge. With a series of romantic mix-ups and a dazzling Irving Berlin score including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is a holiday card come to life! Price includes a buffet meal.
Cinderella (opera)
• Presented by the Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD on Dec 3, 2022 (venue TBA)
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:35
• Drop date: TBA
The Met presents this storybook staging of Massenet’s La Centerentola, with an all-new English translation in an abridged 90 minutes format. Live in HD events include a creative workshop for students and a screening of the Met’s lavish production.
The Nutcracker
• Presented by Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Dec 11 & 17, 2022
• Recommended for ages 5 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Nov 8, 2022
Join little Clara as she drifts into restless slumber, where she meets the sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. An enormous cast dances to live music performed by the Dayton Philharmonic in this holiday tradition!
A Charlie Brown Christmas
• Presented by Sinclair Community College at Blair Hall on Sat, Dec 17, 2022
• Recommended for ages 5-12
• Estimated run time: 1:30
• Drop date: TBA
Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story and featuring the music of Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a present that the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
Les Miserables
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Jan 24 & 25, 2023
• Recommended for ages 12 and up with parental discretion; includes sexual innuendo
• Approximate running time 2:50
• Drop date: Dec 13, 2022
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Dayton Ballet’s 85th Diamond Anniversary
• Presented by Dayton Ballet at the Victoria Theatre on Feb 12, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:30
• Drop date: Jan 10, 2023
Dayton Ballet welcomes its 85th season with a sparkling affair. This exciting repertory program includes a brilliant collection of beautiful ballets that showcase the physicality and virtuosity of the full company of dancers who call Dayton Ballet their home.
Alice in Wonderland (ballet)
• Presented by the Cincinnati Ballet at the Music Hall (Cincinnati) on Feb 16-18, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:40
• Drop date: Jan 17, 2023
This colorful, humorous interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s trippy story is a visual feast with spectacular sets and over-the-top costumes, accompanied by a buoyant score performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Follow the White Rabbit – but watch out for the Red Queen or it’ll be off with your head!
The Mysterious Maestro
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and at the Schuster Center on Mar 12, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Feb 7, 2023
The Mysterious Maestro is a concert story about a girl who loves to sing but who has moved to a town where music is forbidden! Fueled by the music of composers like Verdi, Mendelssohn and Liszt, she breaks the musical silence with the help of a gossipy rat – and her own passion for grand music!
On the Town
• Presented by Wright State University at WSU on Mar 24 & 25, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:40
• Drop date: Feb 21, 2023
Three sailors wreak havoc as they search for love during a whirlwind 24-hour leave in New York City! Featuring remarkable songs written by Leonard Bernstein.
The Hello Girls
• Presented by Sinclair Community College at Blair Hall on Mar 28 & 30, 2023
• Recommended for ages TBA
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: TBA
From New York to Paris, from ragtime to jazz, America’s first women soldiers served as bi-lingual telephone operators on the front lines, helping turn the tide of World War I. They then returned home to fight a decades-long battle for equality and recognition, paving the way for future generations.
Anastasia
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on Mar 21 & 22, 2023
• Recommended for ages 8 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:30
• Drop date: Feb 14, 2023
Inspired by the beloved films, Anastasia transports us from the Russian Empire to Paris, as a brave young woman and her new friends set out to discover the mystery of her past. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Swing Is the Thing
• Presented by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Mar 31, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: TBA
• Drop date: Feb 28, 2023
From Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller, to Bill Haley and the Comets and Jerry Lee Lewis, the Dayton Philharmonic highlights the biggest dance hits from the 1940s and the 1950s. Swing Is the Thing features two world champion swing dancers and two fabulous vocalists!
Falstaff
• Presented by the Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD at Regal Cinema (Fairfield) in April, 2023 (date TBA)
• Recommended for ages 8 and up
• Estimated run time: 3:10
• Drop date: TBA
The caddish knight Falstaff is gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Live in HD events include a creative workshop for students and a screening of the Met’s lavish production.
Das Rheingold
• Presented by Dayton Opera & Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Apr 16, 2023
• Recommended for ages 8 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:40
• Drop date: Mar 14, 2023
Based on Nordic and Germanic myths, Das Rheingold begins when the dwarf Alberich renounces love and steals the magical gold guarded by three nymphs. From this gold he has a ring forged which will give him dominion over the world!
Peter Pan (ballet)
• Presented by Dayton Ballet & Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center on Apr 23, 2023
• Recommended for ages 7 and up
• Estimated run time: 1:45
• Drop date: Mar 21, 2023
Peter and Wendy take flight right before our eyes in the Schuster Center, joined by the swashbuckling Pirates, the wandering Lost Boys, the menacing Captain Hook and his toothy cohort the Crocodile, and of course, the sparkling Tinkerbell! Dayton Ballet’s trip to Neverland will surely keep us all young at heart!
Frozen
• Presented by Dayton Live at the Schuster Center on May 4 & 9, 2023
• Recommended for ages 6 and up
• Estimated run time: 2:20
• Drop date: Mar 28
Frozen features the songs you know and love from the original film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by the film’s songwriters. An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes and powerhouse performances, Frozen is everything you want in a musical!
Middle school suggestions
These performances may be good choices for students in middle school (find details above and on the order form):
Muse Machine Musical
Alice in Wonderland (ballet)
Anastasia
85th Diamond Anniversary (ballet)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Cinderella (opera)
Frozen
Havana Nights
Hometown Holiday / Amahl and the Night Visitors
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (ballet)
The Mysterious Maestro
The Nutcracker
On the Town
Peter Pan (ballet)
PhilharMonster Halloween Concert
Step Afrika!
Symphonie fantastique
White Christmas
Elementary school suggestions
These performances may be good choices for students in elementary school (find details above and on the order form):
Muse Machine Musical
Alice in Wonderland (ballet)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Frozen
The Nutcracker
Peter Pan (ballet)
PhilharMonster Halloween Concert
Step Afrika!
Literary connections
These performances are based on or inspired by books that may be familiar to your students:
Alice in Wonderland (based on the book by Lewis Carroll)
Anastasia (while not based on a specific book, there are many biographies and historical fiction novels available about the life of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna)
Cinderella (based on the global folk tale, commonly known in English from Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm)
Falstaff (based on the character Falstaff, who appears in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2, by William Shakespeare)
Frozen (based loosely on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen)
The Hello Girls (based on the novel Switchboard Operators by Carol Lake)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (based on the short story by Washington Irving)
Legally Blonde (based on the novel by Amanda Brown)
Les Misérables (based on the novel by Victor Hugo)
Peter Pan (based on the novel Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie)
Performance Etiquette Tips
To prepare your students for out-of-school performances, you are welcome to share Muse’s list of Out-of-School Performance Etiquette Tips with your students and chaperones.
Out-of-School Performance Etiquette TipsThe Metropolitan Opera HD Live in Schools
Muse Machine is the first nonprofit organization in the country to partner with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC for the Met’s HD Live in School program. Students and their advisors can experience a pre-opera workshop at Muse Machine or at their school and then attend a live-streamed Met Opera performance at a local movie theater. From workshops to snacks to tickets, this program is entirely FREE to Muse members and schools!
Any size group of students is welcome to attend this event with an advisor or chaperone. High School students may attend independent of advisor.
The Workshops
Prior to the opera, advisors and students join their peers from other Muse schools to participate in an interactive workshop at their own school or at the Muse Studio. These workshops make the elements of opera and theater accessible and compelling and give students and teachers the opportunity to socialize in a community of Muse Members.
“I felt very well-informed and welcome,” one first-time middle school workshop attendee wrote about her experience.
The Livestreams
Students receive free tickets to attend the livestream of the opera they explored in the workshop, performed live by the Metropolitan Opera, at the Hollywood Stadium 20 cinema at Fairfield Commons. Students liked that the broadcast showed the opera singers “up close” and that the filming including behind-the-scenes footage that “showed how they set up the stage.” Middle school Muse members called their first Live HD in Schools opera experience “beautiful and inspiring” and “amazingly awesome.” One wrote “I liked this so much! You should try it!”
Register your students for a Metropolitan Opera HD Live in Schools workshop and cinema performance – registration coming soon