A Grand Night for Singing dinner theater, Springfield, OH

The Ohio Performing Arts Institute is known in the area for its youth performer-driven shows, and occasionally for productions bringing young people and adults together.

Now the Ohio Performing Arts Institute and Theatre — notice the title addition — is branching out into dinner theater aimed at adults with a mostly adult cast performing the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein in “A Grand Night for Singing.”

The Tony Award-nominated musical will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Arts Institute, 1616 E. High St.

D. Scot Davidge, the show’s producer and director, said OPAI is heading in new directions with the show.

“I’m interested in creating a new local venue where we can do more and more theater from here,” he said.

Audition notices for the show went out in May and 40 people responded. According to Davidge, the key was finding voices that worked together. This is the charm of the show, which contains 30 non-stop songs from beloved musicals including “Cinderella,” “Oklahoma!” and “South Pacific.”

The cast was narrowed to 20, ranging in age from 15 to 66 with two sets of parents and kids, and musical director Jay Hale’s mom and dad.

“I discovered a lot of adults want to get into theater,” Davidge said.

Scott Anderson hasn’t performed in 30 years. But when his daughter, Avery, decided to audition at Hale’s suggestion, dad got the fever as well and made the cut.

“How could I say no?” Scott asked. “It was a thousand times harder than I thought it would be with all the steps and movements. But it’s been fun and gotten easier.”

The pair travels for rehearsals from Xenia with one of Avery’s friends who is also in the cast.

“It felt like home like home when I got here,” Avery said, adding she would be open to working with dad again.

Other parents tempted back to the footlights are Brad and Sara Espich. Their daughter, Rebekah Hurst, had been a student at OPAI since age 5 and is now an instructor.

Brad performed at Northwestern High and Sara at South High previously.

“It’s fun to bring them into my world,” said Hurst, whose husband is also performing as a musician.

The Espiches admit to being nervous, but are confident that everything will fall in place by curtain time.

Davidge is looking forward to the reception of “A Grand Night for Singing.” If successful, it could mean another outlet for adult theater, and he is planning a mystery dinner theater for 2018.

Tickets are available at OPAI and seating is limited.

WANT TO GO?

What: A Grand Night for Singing dinner theater

Where: The Ohio Performing Arts Institute, 1616 E. High St., Springfield

When: Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m.

Admission: $30 single; $50 couple

More info: 937-324-7444 or www.facebook.com/ohioperformingartsinstitute/

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