Muse Machine

Muse Machine is an American arts education organization based in Dayton, Ohio, serving 77,000 students and 600 teachers across 13 different southwestern Ohio counties.[1] Founded in 1982 by Suzanne Murray Bassani,[2] the organization has produced many annual musicals and summer concerts, where students participate on stage, backstage, and in the orchestra.[3] Bassani, a stage actress and festival organizer who had lived 18 years in Italy, established the organization after moving to Dayton, with help from locals Jean Woodhull and Frances Sullivan.[2]

Muse Machine's first stage production was the play Once in a Lifetime, put on by Mountview Theatre School students who transported their production (and director) from London to the Victory Theater in Dayton.[4]

A 501(c)(3) non-profit, in tax year 2022, Muse Machine had total revenues of $1.2 million and program service expenses of over $660,000, and net assets of nearly $6 million, under executive director, Ruth Reveal.[5] The approach of the organization is to engage students through arts-integrated classroom instruction, interactive workshops, and professional development for teachers.

  1. ^ Florence Jr., Russell (17 Feb 2024). "Muse Machine gets $30K grant from AES Ohio Foundation". Newspapers.com. Dayton Daily News. p. B4. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dietz Krebs, Betty (8 Jan 1982). "Arts program casts eye to youth". Newspapers.com. Dayton Daily News. p. 25. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ Stuckey, Alex (2010-12-30). "Muse Machine to take audiences 'Into the Woods' with production". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  4. ^ Lipper, Hal (26 Jan 1982). "Transatlantic play due for Victory". Newspapers.com. Dayton Daily News. p. 1. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  5. ^ 2022 Form 990, as found on GuideStar.