By Marilyn Delk
DCCA News
Darke County Center for the Arts sparkling “Sapphire Celebration” season has delighted hundreds of concert-goers thus far, and offers shining examples of things to look forward to in the New Year. A review of the events that entertained and enlightened audience members of all ages follows.
DCCA’s Coffee House Series has sold out each performance thus far, and rightly so. The series opened on Thursday, October 12 at Montage Cafe with Drew Harrison performing “In the Spirit of Lennon,” a retrospective on the life and career of beloved Beatle John Lennon. Weaving tales about the iconic singer while performing the songs that brought fame and fortune to Lennon and his cohorts, Harrison had his audience singing along while holding their rapt attention, bringing forth memories of the joys and sorrows of the life and times of his legendary subject.
And then for something entirely different! On Thursday, October 26, magician David Anthony brought his comedy magic act to an entirely new venue for DCCA, BEANZ Buttercream Bakery,. The magician delighted and stunned his audience, his witty humor and amazing powers of prestidigitation winning gasps of laughter as well as awe from the multi-age crowd assembled. A more mellow mood permeated the crowd at The Coffee Pot on Thursday, December 7, when Cleveland Guitar Trio shared their prodigious talents. Patrick Woods, Doug Wood, and Darren Frate, the guys with guitars who make up the Cleveland Guitar Trio, have fun making music together, resulting in a good time for theiraudiences as well. The trio’s program featured a broad mix of acoustic guitar music including folk, classical, and jazz sounds in a playlist including familiar tunes plus some original compositions by the performing guitar masters.
Two more Coffee House presentations await; Sharie Williams, the Princess of Rockin’ Gospel Blues, will share her powerful message in song at the Hotel Versailles (another new venue for the casual concert series) on February 8. Then on April 11, Cincinnati-based award-winning Americana duo Wild Carrot will take the stage at the Arcanum’s Wayne Trail Historical Society to perform from their vast repertoire of roots music.
In the first of DCCA’s Family Theatre Series presentations, Lightwire Theater’s The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare lit up the stage at St. Clair Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 29. Watching Lightwire’s avant garde “electroluminscent” artistry illuminate a tale based on Aesop’s ancient characters provided an enlightening experience for all involved. DCCA’s Family Theatre Series will continue in the New Year with Tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf on February 18, and the already almost-sold-out Mutts Gone Nuts on April 21.
“Something entirely different” not only describes the eclectic Coffee House season, but aptly provides an accurate depiction of DCCA’s Artists Series presentations thus far. “ArtRageous” opened the series on Saturday, October 21, filling Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall with art, music, and dance created by a one-of-a-kind troupe of performers in a unique show that pays tribute to the arts as an integral and valuable component of human existence and culminates in a gallery of finished paintings that remain within the community. Then on Saturday, November 11, to the delight of all assembled, down-to-earth and extremely funny stand-up comedian Rex Havens took the Memorial Hall stage, providing a laugh a minute. With his positive humor and glowing showmanship earning smiles and winning hearts, Rex explored the strengths, weaknesses, insecurities and incongruities of family life.
Yet to come in the Artists Series is the Derina Harvey Band, whose fresh Celtic Rock take on traditional folk songs has won hearts and earned awards across the continent; this high energy show is scheduled for April 6. Then last, but definitely not least, the highly anticipated annual return to our community of Toledo Symphony Orchestra happens on May 11, bringing exceptionally talented musicians and their melodious repertoire back to Memorial Hall for a delightful program of artistic excellence.
DCCA’s 45th season has definitely gotten off to a sparkling start; you can count on the sizzling celebration continuing into the New Year. For more information on tickets to upcoming shows, contact DCCA at darkecountyarts.org or by calling 937-547-0908.
