Sinclair prepares regional premiere of buzzworthy ‘Be More Chill’
lighting designer Marissa Childress, costumer Kathleen Hotmer, sound designer Sarah Parrott, choreographer Rodney Veal, music director David McKibben, and projection designer Jeffery Brown.
“This musical is accomplishing something different and something profoundly important,” said Gina Neuerer, chair of Sinclair’s Department of Theatre and Dance. “It has spoken to teenagers, given voice to teenagers, and as adults we must listen. We need to just sit with our teenagers and talk with them, get immersed in the things that are vitally important to them, and let them know we see value in what troubles them. We must help them see forms of communicating and existing that don’t involve bullying and violence. We must let go of our adult maturity and hindsight advantage, and give validity to the problems of our youth.”
“Be More Chill” will be held Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. in Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2, 444 W. Third St., Dayton. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets for the Thursday performance are $10. All seats are reserved and available online at sinclair.edu/tickets. Thursday, Sunday and the first Saturday performances are ASL interpreted by student interpreters Catherine Johnson, Macy Reitz, Cecelia Shannon, and Destinie Warren. Due to content and language, the show is recommended for patrons 14 and older.
DCDC in China
On the heels of an outstanding performance of “Body Talk” at the University of Dayton, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is currently in China performing in the Dance Stages Shanghai Dance Festival.
The troupe, entering its 50th anniversary season, will perform “This I Know For Sure,” a highenergy routine commissioned from choreographer Ray Mercer in 2017. DCDC will notably join 26 other dance companies from 17 countries and regions including Britain, Spain and Italy. The festival includes master classes, cultural exchanges with the dancers, and networking among international artists.
“To be chosen to perform in China is a blessing and speaks to the depth of our international reach and the impact of our on stage message,” said DCDC Chief Executive Officer RoNita HawesSaunders.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to share DCDC’s signature contemporary dance abroad,” echoed DCDC Artistic Director Debbie BlundenDiggs. “This is an opportunity to be a cultural ambassador for the United States, using dance as a way to bring people together through this prolific art form.”
The Dance Stages Shanghai Dance Festival, launched in 2016 to critical acclaim, aims to bridge modern dancers and famous Chinese and foreign art institutions as well as promote international cultural exchanges and showcase Chinese modern dance to the world.
The China tour marks the second time in a year that DCDC has performed overseas. The company traveled to Kazakhstan and Russian in May through the U.S. State Department’s DanceMotion USA program.