by Bergen Eppers
For many people, getting to see a Broadway show is on their bucket list. There’s the spontaneous singing, extravagant dancing all in sync and beautifully choreographed, and the wonderful stories and plot lines that entertain audiences of all ages from all around the world. But what most people don’t realize is that we have all that experience and more in our own backyard.
Dayton has a very vibrant performing arts culture with great performances and shows at some modern and historic venues. The Victoria Theater originally built in 1866 is the spot for great stage performances of classic plays and modern masterpieces. The Schuster Center, built in 2003 at the cost of over $88 million, is a breathtakingly beautiful facility that lands some of the most popular touring Broadway shows. Every year a different slate of shows will find their way onto the Schuster Center stage which is designed with a starry sky ceiling that matches the night sky the day the Wright Brothers first flew. Recent performances have included Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Cinderella, 42nd Street, Pippin, and Wicked to name just a few. Finally there is The Loft which is the home to Human Race Theater Company.
Combine these world-class venues with the local university stages at Wright State, UD, and Sinclair, and you have a city where on any given night you can find a top-notch performance of a show that rivals most anything on Broadway.
The great part is that it is all local. No need to pay hundreds of dollars for Broadway tickets and parking, fight big city gridlock, or waste a good part of your day just getting to and from the theater. The Dayton performing arts scene is simple to enjoy, reasonably priced, and guaranteed to wow you with top-notch performances.
Who knew? Now go and explore what the city has to offer.
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