Out-of-school performances 2022-2023
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 OUT-OF-SCHOOL TICKETS
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