“This is an opportunity to walk through your fear with your heart on your sleeve and share your writing. Consider it an early Valentine’s gift to yourself,” said Kinney, a writer and actress best known for her role as Mimi on “The Drew Carey Show.”
Kinney and Ratzlaff are the creative duo behind the “Queen of Your Own Life” philosophy, which promotes claiming a life of joy and adventure. They have also authored several inspirational books. For 35 years, Ratzlaff worked as a marketing executive with Simon & Schuster and Rodale, helping more than 200 books reach The New York Times bestseller lists.
Here’s how to participate:
• For those interested in reading, express your interest here by Feb. 7. Names will be drawn randomly at the event. Writers are invited to read a short essay, story or work-in-progress that’s three minutes or less.
• While the event is free, a $25 donation will help support future workshop programming. Optional donations can be made here.
The hosts will also draw the names of three lucky writers to win complimentary registrations to “The Virtual Erma: Stories of Our Lives Featuring Anne Lamott,” a virtual workshop on Saturday, April 5. Writers must be present to win.
“In a world that sometimes feels overwhelming — whether it’s the tragedy of the wildfires in LA, the biting cold and snow in other parts of the country, or the constant drumbeat of politics — there’s no better way to recharge this winter than spending an evening with fellow storytellers,” said Teri Rizvi, director of the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, in a press release. “We’re thrilled that Kathy and Cindy are championing this fun, supportive night.”
Dayton Opera presents ‘Three Tenors, Encore!’
Dayton Opera is excited about replicating the fun, magic and expertise of the iconic 1990 Rome debut of The Three Tenors in “Three Tenors, Encore!” Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Schuster Center.
Stepping into the legendary shoes of José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti 35 years later are tenors Moisés Salazar, Robert Stahley and Matthew White. Dayton native and University of Dayton alum Howard Watkins, currently working on The Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Aida,” serves as musical director/pianist.
“The Three Tenors concert was a momentous moment,” said Dayton Opera Artistic Director Kathleen Clawson. “It brought opera to a wider audience by performing a great variety of music, all the big hits, but also Broadway, Neapolitan, and Zarzuela. The music was very accessible and the three tenors that performed it — Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti —were so charismatic."
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Clawson is also aiming to recapture the beautiful intimacy of the Dayton Opera’s 2023 Maria Callas concert which brought together four rising operatic stars for an evening of familiar arias.
“When we did the Maria Callas concert, it was a huge success because the audience got to be up and close and personal with the singers,” Clawson explained. “It was one hit after another. Audience members came up to me after the concert and said we should do the (same kind) of concert but with men. Frankly, I watched The Three Tenors concert on PBS all the time as well a the CD and it gave such joy, which is what I wanted to do.”
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
The program will include selections from such classic works as “Carmen,” “Rigoletto,” “Tosca,” “Turandot” (best known for “Nessun dorma”) and “West Side Story.”
“Everybody that comes will love the music and will leave smiling because of the joy these singers will provide,” Clawson said. “Some people might not think of the Schuster Center as intimate but it certainly can be in this recital format.”
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Tickets for the 2:30 p.m. concert are priced at $5-$93.50. For tickets or more information, visit daytonperformingarts.org. The Schuster Center is located at 1 W. Second St., Dayton.
Beavercreek Community Theatre announces 2025-2026 season
Beavercreek Community Theatre’s 2025-2026 season will consist of: Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown’s Tony Award-winning musical “Parade” (Aug. 22-Sept. 7, 2025, directed by Lynn Vanderpool); Jack Throne’s adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s “Let the Right One In” (Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 2025, directed by Chris Harmon); Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice” (Jan. 16-25, 2026, directed by Drew Roby); “An Evening of Radio Plays” (March 6-15, 2026, directed by Saul Caplan); Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” (Apr. 24-May 3, 2026, directed by Sasha Koslova); and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater and Julian Fellowes' musical “School of Rock” (June 12-28, 2026, directed by Aaron Eechaute-Lopez).
Auditions for TheatreLab Dayton’s ‘The Full Monty’
TheatreLab Dayton will hold auditions for its upcoming production of the Tony Award-nominated musical “The Full Monty” Feb. 2 and 3 at 116 N. Jefferson St., Dayton.
The show is directed by Philip Drennen with choreography by Abby Kress Monroe. Rehearsals begin on March 10 and will typically run from 6:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Show runs April 18-19.
Auditions will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 2. (callbacks to follow) and 6 p.m. Feb. 3. A dance call will take place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3. All men auditioning to be a “Monty Man” must attend the dance call on Feb. 3. If you cannot attend, TheatreLab will accept a video submission or you can find another date to come in. Video submissions can be sent to auditions@theatrelabdayton.org.
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