February 8th, 2010

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

DCDC’s 40th anniversary celebration – “Engraving Our Legacy” – will conclude in December with two performances of Debbie Blunden-Diggs’ In the Spirit Of... on the weekend of December 5-6, 2009. The performances will be held at the Dayton Masonic Temple. In the Spirit of... uses original and ancient sources of dance, worship and song as it explores the African American experience. Dancers from both DCDC’s first company and DCDC2 will join forces with many community groups to present this highly popular concert. Choral music, instrumental music, gospel and dance comprise the score. New this year is the much-anticipated participation of a nationally-known gospel singer. The Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund is the primary underwriter of these concerts.

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

The Dayton Philharmonic’s 3-year project, New Media Initiatives, is a multi-faceted program designed to enhance overall awareness of the Orchestra in the region and to increase access to classical music. Streaming (allowing people the opportunity to listen to music through their computers) of WDPR broadcasts allows for national and international exposure. Expanding the Philharmonic’s CD recordings will enhance the DPO’s prestige on a local and regional level and can create a new revenue stream for the Orchestra’s operations. Podcasting allows individuals to obtain “on demand” entertainment or information by downloading it to their computer or IPod to enjoy whenever they wish. All of these elements comprise the DPO’s grant project and expand the opportunities for exposure and education. The New Media Initiatives will make the Philharmonic one of the first orchestra’s of its size to go online in a major way. The Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund is the sole underwriter of this project.

The Human Race Theatre Company

One of the primary goals of The Human Race is to establish itself as a nationally recognized center for the development of new musicals. In creating and developing its grant project, Musicals in Development, The Human Race galvanizes its commitment to the musical theater genre. The project consists of four parts: artist residencies; workshops/staged readings; full musical productions; and, educational opportunities. Through the residency experience, up-and-coming musical theater writers will be able to work in a nurturing atmosphere in preparing their musicals for the next step – workshop or production. Workshops and staged readings provide an avenue for the creative team to experience their work with the help of trained directors and performers. The full production goals include broadening the audience for the Human Race and continuing the overall professional educational and creative experience. Through the various educational opportunities, students will be challenged as writers and performers and track participation in the Stephen Schwartz Scholarship program. The Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund is the primary sponsor of this program.