Top 10 things to do this week

Vocalist MacKenzie Green joins the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for The Music of Prince: A Rock and Symphonic Tribute, the first Rockin Orchestra Series concert of the season, at the Schuster Center in Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 30. CONTRIBUTED

Vocalist MacKenzie Green joins the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for The Music of Prince: A Rock and Symphonic Tribute, the first Rockin Orchestra Series concert of the season, at the Schuster Center in Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 30. CONTRIBUTED

1) IN THE HEIGHTS

Before Lin-Manuel Miranda shook up Broadway with his historical hip-hop musical, “Hamilton,” he was entertaining theater audiences with his award-winning debut, “In the Heights.” The play, based on the playwright’s Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City, won four Tony Awards.

Victoria Theatre Association presents the Premier Health Broadway Series production of Miranda’s moving musical at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 3 through 8. Please note, while Miranda did appear in the original version of “In the Heights,” he is not part of the touring company.

Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Cost: Tickets start at $25. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, conceived and composed by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, opens the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series Oct. 3-8 at the Schuster Center. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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2) SYMPHONIC PRINCE

Prince became another victim of the modern opioid epidemic when died tragically from an accidental overdose of fentanyl. However, that doesn't diminish the power of the music he created during his life. Vocalist MacKenzie Green and music director Nisan Stewart will pay tribute to the late artist's rich music legacy when they join the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for "The Music of Prince: A Rock and Symphonic Tribute." The Rockin' Orchestra Series concert is presented at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Cost: $21-$81. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

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3) YVETTE “DIVA” WILLIAMS

Yvette "Diva" Williams celebrates her new album, "RiseSlayRestRepeat," with Viva La Diva 2017. The release show and cancer care benefit is presented at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Before the concert, Williams' nonprofit Muevelo Cares, Inc. will host a silent auction in the lobby to benefit the Moses "Moe Beats" Montgomery Music Scholarship. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Visit www.yvettedivawilliams.com.

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4) CLAREMONT TRIO

It has been 16 years since the Claremont Trio became the first piano trio to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. That triumph led to a full schedule of concerts and recordings that still keep Emily Bruskin, Julie Bruskin and Andrea Lam traveling and performing for enthusiastic classical music fans. University of Dayton's 2017-2018 ArtsLive season presents the Claremont Trio in a Vanguard Legacy Concert in UD's Jesse Philips Humanities Center's Sears Recital Hall, 300 College Park, Dayton, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. Cost: $18. Discounts are available for seniors and university students, faculty, staff and alumni. Call 937-229-2787 or visit https://go.udayton.edu/artslive.

5) ROB LITTLE

Rob Little was a computer programmer for IBM when he turned his back on corporate America to focus on stand-up comedy. The Detroit-native went through his share of ups and downs but never looked back. Little performs at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, 88 Plum St., The Greene, Beavercreek, Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: $15-$45 Thursday and Sunday, $17-$47 Friday and Saturday. 937-429-LAFF (5233) or www.daytonfunnybone.com.

6) MONSTER JAM

When Monster Jam started in 1992, the high-octane motorsports events were held at fairgrounds and racetracks. Since then, the events have grown to offer both massive arena shows and 14 seasons of nationally televised coverage. Monster Jam brings its current tour to the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29 and 30. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Doors open one hour before start time. Cost: Tickets start at $18. Admission is free for children younger than 2. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.

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Grave Digger, one of the beloved vehicles you’ll see on the Monster Jam tour that will roll into Dayton for three shows at the Nutter Center September 29-30. CONTRIBUTED

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7) AARON LEWIS

Although Aaron Lewis first made his name as the singer for Staind, it is clear the headbanger-turned-country singer has moved on. The group played a reunion set in August but Lewis has stressed repeatedly he has no plans to return fulltime to his hard rock roots. And why should he, his second album, "Sinner," debuted at number one on the country album charts upon its release in September 2016. Lewis, who is on a solo tour through mid-November, performs at JD Legends, 65 Millard Dr., Franklin, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Cost: $32.50. Call 937-746-4950 or visit www.jdlegends.com.

8) JAVON JOHNSON

Javon Johnson is a multi-talented artist. He is a writer, slam poet and college professor, who recently relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles. His credits include "HBO's Def Poetry Jam," "Lyric Café" on BET and the Showtime documentary, "Crossover." Johnson is the featured performer when Dayton Poetry Slam returns to the Yellow Cab Bldg., 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. The event features two rounds of open mike poetry before and after Johnson. Cost: $2. Visit www.yellowcabtavern.com.

9) OVERKILL

While hair metal bands received most of the mainstream media attention in the 1980s, some of the most enduring acts of the era, from Metallica to Anthrax, were delivering a grittier brand of thrash metal that's still popular today. Overkill, another such band, has been trafficking in its pummeling brand of rock 'n' roll since forming in New Jersey in 1980. The hard rockers, which released its 18th studio album, "The Grinding Wheel," in February, bring the Metal Alliance Tour to Oddbody's Music Room, 5418 Burkhardt Road, Dayton, at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. The tour features special guests Crowbar, Havok, Black Fast and Invidia. Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Call 937-813-4272 or visit www.oddbodys.com.

10) I DREAM

"Be entertained, informed, empowered" is the theme of the educational program presented by local nonprofit Hope Road. The STEM-based event, at Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, on Saturday, Sept. 30, includes the stage play, "I Dream," followed by a career panel and IT symposium for students, parents, teachers and counselors. The program runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: $10. Hope Road has been helping put at-risk youth "on the road to success" since February 2012. Call 937-333-4072 or visit www.daytonconventioncenter.com.

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