2024-2025 Community Impact

During the 2024-2025 Dayton Live Discovery Series, we welcomed 15,150 school-aged students and their caregivers from 250 schools to watch outstanding theatre performances in the Victoria Theatre and PNC Arts Annex. Attending one of our Discovery Series shows was the first professional performing arts experience for many children in the greater Dayton region. It’s an opportunity for them to see people like themselves on stage for the first time or gain a different perspective on another culture.

Featuring classic tales like CHARLOTTE’S WEB and THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD to powerful storytelling from MAYHEM POETS, this season encouraged students to tap into their creativity; develop reading, language, mathematics, thinking, and social skills; and garner a deeper motivation to learn. In fact, after watching MAYHEM POETS, 41 students wrote thank you cards to the performers, showcasing the excitement and admiration the audience felt. Ultimately, performing arts field trips can make a lasting impact, ones that inspire the next generation to learn and grow!

Read the Discovery Series Impact fact sheet to learn even more!

The 2025 Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards and Showcase (MVHSTAs) – the Regional Awards Program for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy Awards®) – was our largest-ever celebration of local high school theatre programs. In the 2024-2025 Season, the MVHSTAs involved 39 participating schools, 40+ adjudicators, and 71 productions adjudicated. During the Showcase, 450 students performed on the Schuster Center’s Winsupply Theatre stage, and more than 600 awards were presented, resulting in an evening that celebrated the very best of high school theatre education. Recognizing the achievements of our community’s productions, the MVHSTA Showcase performances produced a memorable night.

Our two MVHSTA nominees, Lynn Dauterman (Fairmont Kettering High School ’25) and Griffin Greear (Oakwood High School ’26), spent 10 days in New York City working with Broadway professionals alongside 110 high school nominees from across the country, leading up to their Broadway debuts at the Minskoff Theatre (home of Disney’s The Lion King) on June 23. Lynn placed in the top 40 and performed a solo from her MVHSTA-nominated production in a character melody, while Griffin performed a raved-about solo during The Jimmy Awards® opening ceremony, marking the first time our MVHSTA nominees were prominently featured in the ceremony.

Read the MVHSTA Impact fact sheet to learn even more!

The 2024-2025 Dayton Live Children’s Theatre Series Sponsored by Dayton Children’s introduced young audiences to the thrill of live theatre! This season featured classic tales including A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD, and GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY BUNNY in addition to the upbeat, fun-filled concert ACTÍVATE WITH 123 ANDRÉS. Each performance included preshow arts and crafts activities that create more opportunities for families to bond, explore the themes of each story, and unleash their creativity. From making new friends to going on unexpected adventures, these stage productions and concerts were made for the whole family to enjoy.

Three out of the four titles in the 2024-2025 Children’s Theatre Series had sensory inclusive performances. Patrons could experience a reduction of loud or jarring sounds, the absence of flashing or strobe lighting, modification of house lights during the performance, and a judgment-free environment where everyone was welcome to vocalize or move around the theatre. This programming was great for all families, especially for people with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other social, learning, or cognitive disabilities. Sensory inclusive performances create a space for all to delight in theatre and live music.

Read the Children’s Theatre Series Impact fact sheet to learn even more!

We’re dedicated to ensuring our community has access to high-quality arts education. The Dayton Live Creative Academy (DLCA) presents a diverse array of professionally curated year-round performing arts experiences for everyone in the family. From relaxed beginner classes to full-scale production summer camps, explorative Broadway after-school intensives to sophisticated themed experiences, there are activities for the young and the young at heart to foster creativity and curiosity. Students of all ages participated in a wide range of activities such as BROADWAY STUDIO, immersive Broadway experiences; STAGE & SIP, preshow 21+ gatherings; and FAMILY BROADWAY STUDIOS, interactive family workshops.

This season, 2,175 students attended 38 DLCA classes and 113 workshops, resulting in 888 hours of instruction. In fact, 409 students attended 16 summer camps including THE SISTERS GRIMM, OLIVER! JR., and MJ: THE MUSICAL – SUMMER CAMP INTENSIVE. During the SUMMER CAMP INTENSIVE, the lead actor of MJ: THE MUSICAL on tour, Jordan Markus, watched our DLCA students perform during their “Informance,” an unforgettable moment for any young performer.

Read the DLCA Impact fact sheet to learn even more!

Dayton Live volunteers are an integral part of our organization, profoundly shaping the patron experience and contributing to the success of our operations.

This season, more than 400 volunteers dedicated over 31,000 hours across nearly 9,000 shifts to make everyone feel welcomed and valued. Whether scanning tickets, ushering, or serving themed cocktails at the Performance Bars, we are deeply appreciative of their service and dedication.

During the 2024-2025 Community Spotlight Program, five community groups delivered a total of 17 performances in the PNC Arts Annex, entertaining a total audience of 1,307 people. The productions ranged in topics from health and wellness to U.S. history and dance. Community groups received hands-on training on how to use in-house theatrical equipment, subsidized ticketing services and house management, along with marketing and staff support. This initiative unites people together to support and champion the uniqueness of our local performing arts community.

• Leroy D. Bean
• Dayton Dance Initiative
• Love Shack
• Magnolia Theatre Company
• The Rong Brothers

Read the Community Spotlight Program Impact fact sheet to learn even more!

During the 2024–2025 Season, we partnered with several community-focused organizations to engage with Dayton area residents. Highlights include:

Dayton Children’s

Dayton Children’s has been an invaluable resource for Dayton Live in providing expert support for our sensory inclusive programming. Their doctors and specialists provided instruction and assistance for Dayton Live volunteers who attended the required training and to our audiences during sensory inclusive performances.

Dayton Metro Library

In partnership with Dayton Metro Library, we created story times inspired by the Children’s Theatre Series. With an average of 25 people in attendance at each story time, families were encouraged to hear the stories and eventually see them on the stage.

Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

We were proud to partner with the Greater Dayton RTA to offer the Fueling Education Scholarship. The Fueling Education Scholarship provides trips to and from Dayton Live’s campus for students and educators to experience our engaging programs free of charge. As a result of this partnership, 398 students were able to see Discovery Series shows at Dayton Live venues during the 2024-2025 Season.

SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center

This season, we partnered with SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center to develop social media content that named several pets after characters from each show in our Broadway Series, such as Hamitail, Anne Bonelyn, and Peter Paw. This collaboration connected us to a peer not-for-profit organization doing invaluable work in the community.

Wright State University

The Wright State University partnership provides the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards with a space to conduct our MVHSTA Jimmy’s® workshop in their Creative Arts Center. Thirty local high school students were invited to this daylong workshop where they competed for a spot to attend The Jimmy Awards® in New York City.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Spring Session

The Dayton community came together to welcome world leaders during the NATO PA Spring Session throughout Memorial Day weekend – the first time since 2003 the event was held in the United States and the first time it had been held in a performing arts center.

More than 240 delegates from NATO’s 32 member countries discussed a wide range of global topics while in Dayton, including at the Schuster Center and Victoria Theatre. The two-and-a-half-year collective effort and community collaboration required to execute an event of this magnitude was significant and successful.

Six top-tier touring Broadway shows performed at the Schuster Center during the 2024-2025 Season, including HAMILTON, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, SIX: THE MUSICAL, CHICAGO, PETER PAN, and MJ: THE MUSICAL.

During the single week of SIX in Dayton, the critically acclaimed Broadway production was met with unprecedented audience demand in Dayton – more than 17,000 patrons attended eight performances, with a completely sold-out weekend.

Our concerts showcased a variety of genres for all music tastes like choral music, classic rock, and Irish folk songs. Classic Albums Live musicians covered artists including the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and Queen, the world-renowned VIENNA BOYS CHOIR performed to a nearly sold-out crowd in the Victoria Theatre, the musical phenomenon THE PIANO GUYS wowed audiences in the Schuster Center, and the beloved SHAMROCK TENORS had people swaying in their seats to energetic tunes. Fun fact: While in Dayton, the SHAMROCK TENORS visited Dublin Pub and enjoyed a personalized draft beer.

Stand-up comedy enthusiasts laughed with a several comedians during the 2024-2025 Season, including Dayton native Beth Stelling, Emmy®-nominated comic and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia, viral sensations Nurse Blake and Charlie Berens, and Dayton favorite Brian Regan. Bringing people together to hear jokes makes for entertaining and unforgettable nights, where everyone takes time to cheer and build community.

Theatrical comedies can make for a fun evening, too. From Broadway shows to events that make people laugh out loud, this genre is for all who want to have a good time. THE BOOK OF MORMON roared into Dayton for only one week and kept audiences laughing all night long. The Tony Award®-winning musical was a phenomenal comedy that resonated with so many in our community.

Our mission is to share the excitement of live entertainment with young audiences. We presented both traditional and sensory inclusive productions, so performances were accessible to as many children as possible. These stage productions and concerts can inspire the next generation of theatregoers or perhaps young artists waiting in the wings.

We brought expert voices to Dayton to discuss riveting topics such as wildlife photography, primatology, animal wellbeing, and exploration. Photographers Vincent J. Musi and Keith Ladzinski both shared their rich insights on photography, while world-renowned primatologist Mireya Mayor discussed her unconventional path to success. Animal advocate and rescuer Lee Asher shared his story of hope and resilience. In collaboration with SICSA, we organized a pet adoption drive in tandem with Lee Asher’s talk, resulting in multiple successful pet adoptions. Following the engagement, Lee Asher established a relationship with the SICSA team and subsequently adopted a dog from the shelter.

Our programming appealed to people with various interests, such as fans of the anime and manga phenomenon: PRETTY GUARDIAN SAILOR MOON: THE SUPER LIVE, true crime junkies who marveled over SERIAL KILLERS WITH DR. SCOTT BONN, and Marvel and Spidey-fans alike watching the movie and listening to the up-beat score of SPIDER-MAN ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE LIVE IN CONCERT. Shows like THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY chronicled the journey of beloved musicians in an exciting narrative format, bringing fans of these performers together to relive their hits in an intimate setting. All these unique experiences provide people with a space to find community and engage in what they love.