MARCH MADNESS: Food trucks, hoopla, St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans and more things to do this month

Here are some of the best things to do this month near Dayton.

🎉BEST BETS

1) DCDC’s UNTOLD STORIES

For its next concerts, "Untold Stories," Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is collaborating with performers from DCDC2 and the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble. The program is presented in the University of Dayton, Boll Theatre, 300 College Park, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13. Cost: $12 general admission, $8 UD students, faculty and staff. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

2) JEFF DUNHAM

There are plenty of ventriloquists working today but none are as famous as Jeff Dunham, who has been selling out arenas around the world for decades. The superstar ventriloquist returns to town with Peanut, Melvin the Superhero Guy and other onstage partners for a concert at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Cost: $52.50. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.

3) MASTERCHEF JUNIOR LIVE

Cooking demonstrations and food challenges are on the menu when "MasterChef Junior Live!" hits the Gem City. Past contestants from the popular television series will appear on stage at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Cost: $35 to $115. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

4) DRUM TAO

The Japanese percussion group Drum Tao is so popular there are three different iterations traveling the world, delivering more than 700 high energy performances per year. Victoria Theatre Association's Projects Unlimited Star Attraction Series presents the new program, Drum Tao 2020, at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Cost: $38 to $58. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

5) BETTING ON BOONSHOFT

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 Deweese Pkwy., Dayton, hosts Eureka: Betting on Boonshoft from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 14. The annual winter fundraiser features hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails. Cost: $50 per person early bird reservations, $60 between March 6 and 14 and $70 at the door. This cocktail party is 21 and older. All reservations include a welcome cocktail. Call 937-275-7431 or visit www.boonshoftmuseum.org.

6) PEKING ACROBATS

For more than three decades, the members of the Peking Acrobats have been enthralling audiences with extraordinary feats of skill. Victoria Theatre Association's Family Series presents this show at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Cost: $38. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

7) WRIGHT STATE ARTSGALA

Wright State University hosts ArtsGala in WSU's Creative Arts Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28. The 21st annual event not only features performances by students in the programs of art, music, theatre, dance and motion pictures but also dinner, drinks and a silent auction. Cost: $250 to $550. Call 937-775-2500 or visit www.wright.edu.

>> PHOTOS: Did we spot you at last year’s ArtsGala?

8) PRO BULL RIDERS

Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour is often miscategorized as a rodeo when in fact it is a professional bull riding show with a full-on production with music and pyrotechnics. The tour returns to town for the Dayton Rumble at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Cost: $23 to $103. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.

9) NAT GEO LIVE

In "Kara Cooney: When Women Ruled the World," the Egyptologist takes audiences back to the days when queens like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra ruled ancient Egypt. Victoria Theatre Association presents Cooney in a National Geographic Live Series program at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, on Sunday and Monday, March 22 and 23. Show times are 3 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday. Cost: $29 B level, $35 A level and $45 gold. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

10) FOOD TRUCKS

For the sixth year in a row, Yellow Cab Tavern will be welcoming guests to the Yellow Cab Food Truck Rally. The first installment in the 2020 series will be taking place on Friday, March 20, beginning at 5 p.m. From that point on, a food truck rally will be held on the third Friday of every month through October.With a rotating lineup of food trucks, The Yellow Cab Food Truck Rallies offer beer, free live music and new and intriguing local cuisines for attendees to try. Visit www.yellowcabfoodtrucks.com.

>> Mark your calendars: Local food truck rally to return to Dayton in March

11) BIG HOOPLA

The Big Hoopla is back. A free Family Celebration Festival will take in the Oregon District the weekend leading up to the NCAA First Four games at UD Arena March 17-18. The event will be held on Fifth Street in the Oregon District on Sunday, March 15. The event will feature a half basketball court to practice free throws, grab a pick-up game and enjoy family 1-on-1 challenges. There will also be events surrounding the Hoopla Four Miler and the Hoopla STEM Challenge that will be held prior to the festival. Food and beverage specials and a tented viewing area to help fans keep up with sports news from the day will fill the street. More info: Website.

>> The Big Hoopla announces Family Celebration Festival leading up to First Four

☘️ST. PATRICK’S DAY

1) DUB PUB

St. Patrick's Day is such a big deal at Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., Dayton, the downtown establishment always stretches it out to two days. This year's party, on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, has special activities, the Guinness Girls and live music from Stranger, Jameson's Folly, Miami Valley Pipes and Drums and others. The festivities go from 6 p.m. to close on Monday and start up again at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Cost: $10 per day, or $50 for the two-day VIP Experience. Call 937-224-7822 or visit www.dubpub.com.

2) FLANAGAN’S

Flanagan's Pub, 101 E. Stewart St., Dayton, hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration on Tuesday, March 17. The annual event features Dulahan, Spungewurthy, Miami Valley Pipes and Drums, Funky G & the Groove Machine and others. The party starts at 6 a.m. with free admission. Cost: $10 after 8 a.m. Call 937-228-5776 or visit www.flanagansdayton.com.

3) ST. PAT-ROCK’S

Most local St. Patrick's Day parties are indoors but WTUE-104.7 (FM) is taking a different approach for its St. Pat-Rock's Day event. For the second year, this long-running annual celebration is held in downtown Fairborn beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. The street party features food trucks, beer vendors and live music from Spungewurthy, Dulahan, RIND and Full Frontal. Cost: $10. This event is rain or shine. Visit wtue.iheart.com.

>> PARTY TIME! What to know about Dayton’s biggest and baddest St. Patrick’s Day bashes

🎭MARCH THEATER

1) DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL

The life and career of hitmaking singer Donna Summer is the focus of "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical." The Premier Health Broadway Season program opens at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, on Tuesday, March 31. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $26 to $99. "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" is presented through Sunday, April 5. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

2) MILF RISING

A middle-aged woman juggling motherhood and social activism in the #MeToo era drives the action in "The MILF Also Rises," a new work by Cincinnati-based Jen Joplin. Human Race Theatre Co. presents the play at Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton, at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. Cost: $20. This show contains adult language and subject matter and isn't recommended for ages younger than 16. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

3) THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER

Although written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart in the 1930s, "The Man Who Came To Dinner" the contrasting themes of celebrity and small-town life still resonate with modern audiences. Jim Lockwood directs the stage comedy, which opens as Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, on Friday, March 6. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $18, $20. "The Man Who Came To Dinner" is presented weekends through Sunday, March 15. Call 937-424-8477 or visit www.daytonplayhouse.org.

4) MORNINGS AT SEVEN

Four aging sisters contemplate their present and future in "Mornings At Seven." Dayton Theatre Guild's production of the Paul Osborn play opens at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton, on Friday, March 20. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday opening weekend, and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday the following weekends. Cost: $20 adults, $18 seniors and $13 students. Season tickets are available. "Mornings At Seven" runs weekends through Sunday, April 5. Call 937-278-5993 or visit www.daytontheatreguild.org.

5) MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS

Playwright John Bishop sends up the well-tread genre of the closed-room mystery for his 1987 play, "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940." Abby Smith directs this production opening at Lebanon Theatre Company, 10 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon, on Friday, March 6. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $19. "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" is presented weekends through Sunday, March 15. Visit www.ltcplays.com.

6) MAMMA MIA

ABBA was past its pop chart prime when Catherine Johnson wisely revived the group's '70s hits to support the action in "Mamma Mia!" The result was stage magic. A student production opens in Wright State University's Festival Playhouse, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, on Thursday, March 19. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees March 22, April 4, 5, 11 and 12. Cost: Ticket prices weren't announced at press time. "Mamma Mia!" runs through Sunday, April 12. Call 937-775-2500 or visit www.wright.edu/tdmp.

7) MISS NELSON

The Smedley Tornadoes have never won a high school football game but that could change when coach Viola Swamp takes over. That's the setup for "Miss Nelson Has A Field Day," Joan Cushing's musical adaptation of the children's book. Victoria Theatre Association's Family Series presents this musical at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29. Show times are 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, with a 2 p.m. Sensory Friendly matinee on Sunday. Cost: $17. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

8) THE SUBMISSION

For the next installment of its Monday Night Playreading Series, Human Race Theatre is presenting a stage reading of "The Submission." The work by Jeff Talbott, which won the Laurents/Hatcher Award for Best New Play in 2011, is presented at Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., Dayton, at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9. Cost: $20. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

9) LLAMA LLAMA LIVE

Anna Dewdney's children's book "Llama Llama Red Pajama" was the source material for "Llama Llama Live." Victoria Theatre Association's Family Series presents this play with book, music and lyrics by Austin Zumbro at Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, on Sunday, March 15. Show times are 2 and 5 p.m. Cost: $25. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

10) TEXAS NIGHTMARE

It doesn't get more meta than a local company mounting a play about a community theatre troupe attempting to a stage Shakespeare classic. That's exactly what you get with Burton Bumgarner's "A Mid-Summer Night's Texas-Sized Nightmare." Youth Theatre Productions presentation of this play opens at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, on Friday, March 6. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $5 to $15. "A Mid-Summer Night's Texas-Sized Nightmare" runs weekends through Sunday, March 15. Call 937-429-4737 or visit www.bctheatre.org.

🎤MARCH MUSIC

1) JOHNNY MATHIS

Johnny Mathis is celebrating his 64th year in the music business however rather than chilling on some tropical beach, he is taking his music to his fans. The legendary singer brings his "The Voice of Romance Tour" to the area for a Vic-150 Music Series concert at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Cost: $42 to $122. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

2) APPALACHIAN SPRING

While Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" gets the title billing in the next performance from the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, the program also features pieces by Bedrich Smetana and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The orchestra continues its 30th anniversary season with this concert at Kettering Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3939 Stonebridge Road, Kettering, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1. Cost: $15 adults, $12 seniors and military, $5 students. Call 937-530-0515 or visit www.mvso.org.

3) DAYTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS

Dayton Gay Men's Chorus continues its 2019-2020 season with "Enter the Queen's Court." This program, which features madrigals, jesters, a silent auction, food, drinks and more, is presented at the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost: $35. DGMC's next local performance is "Flashback" at Victoria Theatre on June 6. Visit www.daytongaymenschorus.org.

4) DPO’S STONES WITH STRINGS

Although released in 1968 and '69 respectively, "Beggar's Banquet" and "Let It Bleed," ushered in the Rolling Stones' rootsy reawakening in the '70s. Windborne Music celebrates the iconic albums with "The Music of the Rolling Stones," at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21. The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra provides symphonic support to the group in this Rockin' Orchestra series concert. Cost: $27 to $92. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

5) ANGEL BLUE

Whether appearing in one of the title roles in "Porgy & Bess," guesting with the Israeli Philharmonic or duetting with Andrea Bocelli, Angel Blue has a voice that can't be denied. Dayton Opera presents Blue in a Star Recital program at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22. Cost: $30 to $98. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

6) REND COLLECTIVE

It's been nearly 10 years since the release of Rend Collective's debut album, "Organic Family Hymnal." Since then, the Irish group has gone from hometown favorites to international stars of the Christian music world. Rend Collective, currently on the road with special guest Sean Curran, performs at Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20. Cost: $22 to $68. Call 937-339-2911 or visit www.hobartarena.com.

7) INVOKE

Invoke is not your grandfather's chamber group. The string quartet, which includes a banjo player, presents a repertoire that includes classical, bluegrass, jazz and more. ArtsLive presents Invoke in a Vanguard Legacy concert in the University of Dayton's Sears Recital Hall, 300 College Park Ave., Dayton, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 29. Cost: $18 general admission, $15 UD alumni and seniors, $10 UD employees and retirees and $5 youth and non-UD students. UD students are admitted free but tickets are required. Call 937-229-2787 or visit www.udayton.edu.

8) JANE IN CONCERT

Footage of Jane Goodall's trailblazing chimpanzee research is only one of the draws of the documentary, "Jane." This film by Brett Morgen also features a memorable score by Philip Glass Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will bring the Glass score to life during "Jane in Concert" at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Cost: $37.50 to $65.50. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

9) SOUTHERN OHIO INDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL

Award-winning bluegrass group Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers presents the spring installment of Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival. Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Volume Five, the Little Roy & Lizzy Show and the Kevin Prater Band are among the acts at the twice-yearly event at Roberts Convention Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28. Doors open at 10 a.m. each day and music begins at noon. Cost: $35 to $65 in advance, $40 to $70 at the door. Call 800-965-9324 or visit www.somusicfest.com.

10) LEATHER & PEARL

Dayton has a growing roots-rock scene, which is the focus of the new festival Leather & Pearl. The country music showcase at Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton, at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, features performances by Kyle Eldridge & the Rhythm Rounders, Mack McKenzie, Charlie Jackson & the Heartland Railway, Rob Heiliger and the local tribute act, Buck Owens Music Review. Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call 937-424-3870 or visit www.yellowcabtavern.com.