Arts & Entertainment

The Kite Runner May 28 – June 2

May 23, 2024 By Dayton937

Based on Khaled Hosseini’s beloved, international best-selling novel, THE KITE RUNNER is a powerful new play adapted by Matthew Spangler that follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption.

Afghanistan is a divided country, and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the incident which will change their lives forever. Told across two decades and two continents,?THE KITE RUNNER is an unforgettable journey of forgiveness, and shows us all that we can be good again.

The Human Race Theatre Company and Dayton Live are proud to bring this national tour to Dayton.

Actor’s Theatre Fairborn, presents “On Golden Pond”

May 18, 2024 By Dayton937

Actor’s Theatre, Fairborn, presents “On Golden Pond” written by Earnest Thompson and directed by Brian Sharp.

“On Golden Pond” is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are spending their 48th year at their summer home on Golden Pond. This year, their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her new fiancé visit before departing for Europe and leaving his teenage son behind for a summer of lessons learned and bonds strengthened. This is a heartwarming and hilarious show about three generations of a family learning to communicate and to care.

Tickets are $17.50 and are available online or at the door.

Certified Human Night

May 16, 2024 By Dayton937

Come play along with the theatre you love.

Join the staff and board of The Human Race Theatre Company at a one-of-a-kind fundraising event that will leave you buzzing! Brush up on your Broadway and Karaoke favorites for two rounds of Music Trivia, then stay for a live(ly) auction hosted by Resident Artist and professional auctioneer Tim Lile and to mix and mingle with fellow theatre lovers.

Plan to celebrate with us on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 6 PM to 10 PM at The Loft Theatre (126 N. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Dayton, OH 45402) as we head into our 39th season! We celebrate what brought us here and raise a toast to where we’re going next with our company and our community.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE OUR FIRST CERTIFIED HUMAN?

After an evening full of joy, creative fellowship, and innocent competition, stay for the first ever recognition as a Certified Human, cementing your place as a top fan of The Human Race Theatre Company. The winning bid will be commemorated in our lobby alongside a newly commissioned artwork made in collaboration with Dustin Wagner from Nyminal Glass. In this world of AI and deep fakes, let us endorse you as the real deal – no physical required! Be the first inductee of this new tradition!

Celebrate with us as we head into the 39th season.

UD and TheatreLab go ‘Into the Woods’ together!

May 15, 2024 By Joshua Stucky

TheatreLab continues to do some ‘outside of the box’ things in hopes of catching new theater-goers and launching new relationships. This time around, the company has joined forces with the University of Dayton to take us ‘Into the Woods‘ via the Sondheim Classic. I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to 2 of the stars of the show….Kyle Channell and Madeline Stern.

JS: First of all, thank you for meeting with me. I know you are so excited to share info about the production!! Tell me what made you interested in being part of ‘Into the Woods?’

KC: Well, I feel like Into the Woods is a rite of passage for every theatre performer. It’s hard not to go for it when a production is being staged. There are so many iconic archetypes and characters throughout, so any chance to get involved is so tempting. TheatreLab Dayton is a name that has been popping up on my radar for a while, so when I heard they were doing ITW and I could make it work with finishing undergrad, I had to go for it.

MS: And for me….I will take any opportunity I get to be in a Sondheim show! My parents work in the theatre industry and had the incredible opportunity to work with Sondheim, so I was exposed to his music at a really young age. His shows have always been part of my life and musical DNA. I’m so grateful for the way his art has impacted and inspired me as a performer through the different phases of my life.

JS: Wow Madeline, so cool. You both have roles that are intricate and important to the ‘story-telling’ that makes ITW such a beloved story. What resonates with you about your respective roles….Madeline, you first this time!!

MS: (the WITCH) The Witch has such an interesting emotional arc through the show. Her story is about intergenerational trauma and how we’re all just trying to do better than our parents did, and their parents before them. Her mother cursed her with ugliness because the Baker’s Father stole her beans, which was completely outside of her control. Not something a kind and loving mother would do, if you ask me! The Witch tries so desperately to be a better mother than hers was, but ends up holding on to Rapunzel too tightly. She loves her so deeply and tries to do right by her, but continues to make mistakes. It’s just so human to love so deeply and be so flawed. I think we can all see a bit of ourselves in that dynamic.

JS: Ummm, that’s like a spot-on description of the role….take notes folks….Kyle?

KC: The Baker is a complicated, beautifully flawed man. However, what is truly endearing about him is his willingness to change – that is a rare trait in so many men and male characters throughout theatre canon. The complicated relationship between him and his father directly dictates his relationship with fatherhood, so his evolution has been a treat to explore. I’m fortunate to tackle paternal roles frequently, but I have yet to find one I connect with so personally as I do with the Baker.

MS: I love roles that allow me to blend my classical and musical theatre training. I would love to play Amalia in She Loves Me, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Rodgers and Hammerstein- basically everything Kelli O’Hara has done.

JS: You two need to write ‘character descriptors’ for script companies. HA HA! Keeping that in mind, what role are you still wanting to tackle in your career?

KC: Good question. There are so many amazing characters I want to play. I’d love to tackle Vanya, Hamlet, Phil Connors in Groundhog Day, Sweeney Todd, Tony in WSS, etc. The Baker was a big one, but I’m happy I got to tackle it the first time.

MS:I love roles that allow me to blend my classical and musical theatre training. I would love to play Amalia in She Loves Me, Dot in Sunday in the Park with George, Francesca in Bridges of Madison County, Rodgers and Hammerstein- basically everything Kelli O’Hara has done.

JS: OMG….quick story. I met her, didn’t know who she was…it was literally 20 plus years go…and she was in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ on some tour back then. 10 years later she’s doing ‘South Pacific’ and I’m like, that’s that lady who people said would be famous some day…um….I think she’s been nominated for 8 Tonys..and of course, now the ‘Gilded Age.’ Sorry, I digress…

So when did you know acting was ‘for you?’

MS: My parents love to tell the story of me at about 3 years old, coming out into the living room and singing “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat in the lowest notes I could possibly squawk out. I knew from the time I could talk that I was going to be a singer.

KC: The theatre bug bites early and hard. My work in the theatre began when I was about 8, and honestly, it’s been an inextricable element of who I am ever since. Whether I would pursue this professionally was never really in question, it’s just a matter of who I am.

JS: You two are a delight to chat with. Thank you both so very much. Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

MS: Well, hmmm, in addition to performing, I teach voice lessons through the Madeline Stern Vocal Studio online. I also love creating content for singers on Instagram and TikTok @SingwithMadeline. Check out if you want to learn more about me!

KC: Feel free to follow me at kyle.channell on Instagram or check out my website at kylechannell.com! I hope you enjoy the show and please keep supporting the theatre scene wherever you are. This is an industry still recovering from COVID so your patronage is what keeps the theatre scene both in Dayton and beyond alive.

JS: Well said Kyle. I am hoping you both ‘break-a-leg’ this weekend and continue to entertain on that stage for a lifetime.

Come see Kyle and Madeline….

May 16 – 19, 2024
Boll Theatre at the University of Dayton, 300 College Park Avenue, 45469

For more information and tickets to TheatreLab Dayton’s Into the Woods go to http://bit.ly/TLDIntoTheWoods

McCoy on Movies: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

May 13, 2024 By Tabari McCoy

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes explores the best, worst of humanity, society effectively

“OK, one of us forgot our deodorant, which is a shame because we all could use a bath at this point!” Ambitious Eagle Clan survivor Noah (voiced by Owen Teague) and Raka (voiced by Peter Macon, far right) find themselves making a dangerous journey alongside their newfound human companion Mae (Freya Allen) in a scene from director Wes Ball’s KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Credit: ©2024 Twentieth Century Studios. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, Travis Jeffrey, Lydia Peckham and William H. Macy

DIRECTOR: Wes Ball

THE BACK STORY: Taking place several generations after the rule of Caesar, the ape who would lead his species to prominence once a man-made virus gives primates intellect while rendering humanity speechless, we are introduced to Noah (Owen Teague). A member of the Eagle Clan, Noah – along with his friends Anaya (Travis Jeffrey) and Soona (Lydia Peckham) – is looking to graduate into adulthood by completing a ritual of their clan: Grabbing a young eagle egg from a nest to raise as their own.

What Noah doesn’t know or suspect, however, is that the blanket that is taken from his horse will end up changing his entire clan’s fate forever. For once an elder warrior goes out to investigate, a warrior clan acting under the order of Proximus (Kevin Durand) is set to devastate anything in their path. Worse yet, the clan has the audacity to yell “For Caesar!” who has risen to mythical status … Even if his ideals are no longer being followed by Proximus or any of those under his rule.

As fate would have it, Proximus’ grand designs for the future lead to a life-altering experience for the Eagle Clan, leaving Noah out on a path seeking revenge. Along the way, he will encounter an orangutan who knows the true nature of Caesar in the friendly Raka (Peter Macon) … But perhaps most surprising will come when he runs into an “echo” – or “Nova” as Raka calls them – in the form of Mae (Freya Allen). While at first scared, Mae reveals a secret in a startling fashion that will also rock Noah’s world.

But what awaits them as the face their destiny could alter the future for apes and humans forever ..

THE REVIEW: The detailed, evolving (pun intended) story has been one of if not the best aspects of the Planet of the Apes franchise since it was rebooted in 2011. KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES continues that tradition, exploring the ideas of legends versus reality, power versus purpose and – as if ripped from today’s headlines – the idea of being able to coexist with others different from us in every way save for wanting the same thing: A peaceful way of life for those whom we care about.

For a film with essentially only two meaningful humans on screen, KINGDOM makes the most of its ape acing core to build upon the previous installments of the film while setting a meaningful stage for the next installment. Superhero film directors could learn a lot from Ball and his team with their work on KINGDOM, the effects making the old Charlton Heston films feel as dated as the acting within them.

Whereas Proximus and the idea of more is an easily relatable theme, his warning to Noah feels as true as it is sad when posted up against today’s political climate. Whereas trust can be weaponized for the advancement of one group versus another, KINGDOM also shows (albeit with a significant amount of blatant foreshadowing) what earned trust can be worth, why violence isn’t the answer and how man – or in this case, man and ape – often get in their own way of finding the way of life they wish to live. If there are criticisms to be had, it might be in the form of pacing (the first 30-40 minutes feel way longer than they are) and possibly the way in which William H. Macy’s character comes across as necessary yet one note.

Those minor issues notwithstanding, KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES achieves what it sets out to dow what so many have tried over the course of humanity: Remember that the word “humanity” includes the word “human,” even if it takes a bunch of apes to remind us of the best and worse of us as a species.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

Filmmaker Aisha Ford To Be Honored at Dayton Black Women’s Film Festival

May 13, 2024 By Dayton937

Aisha Ford is an award-winning filmmaker known for humanizing complex issues with empathy and inclusivity. Her short films have screened at prestigious festivals like Tribeca and HollyShorts, earning recognition from organizations like BAFTA and NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned accolades such as the Spike Lee Film Production Grant. Aisha’s talent was showcased at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019, and she recently directed an acclaimed campaign for Dove and Ogilvy titled “As Early As Five,” addressing hair discrimination against Black girls.

The Church Basement Ladies Are Back at La Comedia

May 8, 2024 By Dayton937

La Comedia is at it again with The Church Basement Ladies. Whether this is you first visit to the basement, or you’ve seen ’em all, the ladies don their polyester pantsuits and sing, dance and laugh their way thru this hilarious and touching new musical, Plowin Thru.

The year is 1975 and all your favorite characters are back in the 9th installment of the wildly popular series. Whether this is your first visit to the basement or you’ve seen ‘em all, you won’t want to miss this brand new show!

It’s been five years since Pastor left and the church is struggling. As Pastor comes back to fill in as interim, Karin has taken a leadership role in the church and Beverly, now a mother of three, is ready for a larger role in the kitchen.

As with all shows at La Comedia, your ticket includes a meal before the show, and they go all out with their buffets. You can check out the menu here. For evening shows Thursday – Sunday, they suggest arriving between 5:30-6:00 p.m. The buffet will open around 6:15 p.m. and the show will begin around 7:30 – 7:45 p.m. All shows have two acts with a 15-minute intermission.

For matinee shows Thursday, Friday & Sunday, they suggest arriving between 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. The buffet will open around 11:15 a.m. and the show will begin around 12:30 – 12:45 p.m. All shows have two acts with a 15-minute intermission. You can purchase tickets, which range from $70-79, online.

LA COMEDIA DINNER THEATRE

765 W Central Ave,
Springboro, OH, 45066

(800) 677-9505

The ‘Lion King’ remains a Creative Masterpiece.

May 8, 2024 By Joshua Stucky

Simba and fans!

I have always had a love/hate relationship with Disney musicals, but let’s give this one what it is due…..there’s a sense of divinity in this classic. Is it the rhino… the elephant baby, the plethora of herded animals…or what about the ballet of birds, the hideous hyenas….so much to sit and marvel! Disney went all the way in and with the ingenious use of costuming and a fabulous musical score, I kindly tip my safari hat to this one.

Watching the audience was, in itself, a treat. Children with mouths wide open as actors paraded a few times down the aisles. Adults laughing at the jokes keenly written for their pleasure. The ROAR of the crowd when that final curtain comes down, and you ‘feel the love tonight!’

‘Lion King‘ doesn’t sugar-coat the story either…as broadway can sometimes do. The heart-breaking circumstances that lead us through the ‘sibling rivalry’ of Scar and Mufasa; the desperation of needing to find purpose in Simba; and the undying support of Nala….what a VOICE! There are strong players throughout the production. Rafiki, Pumbaa and Timon delight the captive audience. Zazu flies in and out just enough to move the plot forward.

All that aside, take a minute and really watch what’s happening in this cavalcade…..the technology that makes it GOOOOOOO! Look to Scar’s mask, the lionesses’ choreography, the endless puppetry..It’s a GAS, just ask Pumbaa! During the show, a young girl sat directly in front of me. Her excitement was palpable. She believed what was on that stage…it was real. These characters, be they men, women or beast, were at the Schuster Center and they were ALIVE. Their story was important and needed to be heard….and she listened. As we made our way out, her grandmother asked ‘Well, what did you think?’ Her eyes, still large from the sights, ‘I’m so glad he got to be King! He’s a good lion.’

And there it is….in true Disney fashion…a reason to believe that all is well in the world. At least it is at the Schuster for a few more nights!!!

For more information click here:

https://www.daytonlive.org/events/lion-king/

Artist of the Week: Shawna Hatton

May 6, 2024 By Bill Franz

ARTIST OF THE WEEK Shawna Hatton of Chasing Light Art Studio and Gallery with her painting titled “The Poet.” I photographed Shawna at The Betty, a gallery at Front Street, where she’s had an exhibition since the beginning of March.

“I put a group of my larger works in this exhibition” she told me. “They’re from several time periods. This one was done quite a while ago. The pose is from one of my favorite paintings, “The Old Guitarist” by Picasso. The poem in the painting is something I came across that seems like it was written for all artists, not just poets – especially these lines:

The poet must look at the world,

Must enter into other men’s lives,

Must look at the earth and the sky,

Must examine the dust in the street,

I asked Shawna how she’d ended up in Dayton. “We travelled quite a bit as I was growing up. Then we moved here and I graduated from Centerville High School. Since then I’ve travelled a bit. I got an art degree at St Mary’s in Indiana and studied for a year in Rome. Then I was a graphic designer in Chicago, California, Denver, then back to California where I started teaching. I moved back here eight years ago and I love it.

The first job I got when I moved here was teaching at the Dayton Art Institute. I taught portraiture, the same class I’d taken there as a high school student. It felt like my life had come full circle.”

I also visited Shawna’s Gallery – https://www.chasinglightartstudio.com/ – at 1410 South Main Street, Studio C, Springboro, Ohio 45066. The studio is on the second floor, so you climb a flight of stairs to get to it.

At the top of the stairs you enter one of two small rooms where you can buy works by more than 15 area artists. Then you enter the large room where Shawna paints and where she gives classes.

“When I first moved to Springboro I took yoga classes here” Shawna told me. “As the morning sun streamed through these windows I always thought it would be a great place to paint. Now I can.””

“Opening this business four years ago has been like a dream come true. Now I can make art and teach in my own space. I first taught art to kids when I lived in California and I was surprised how much I loved it. I’m not sure I could tell you which of those activities – making art and teaching art – I like the best. I usually teach adults one-on-one, and I have regular group classes for kids.”

“For more visits to the studios of local artists go to https://billfranz17.com/ ”

Don’t Tell Mama featuring The Rubi Girls

May 5, 2024 By Dayton937

Join us for a Mother’s Day extravaganza with fun, friends, and an amazing drag show to benefit the Human Rights Campaign on May 11!

This election year, your generosity and support help us advocate, mobilize, and change hearts and minds while we push back against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies, and help elect pro-Equality candidates.

Please invite any friends who would be interested in joining and learning more about HRC.

For any questions, contact Colin Altman at [email protected].

Improvised One Act Play (+ Free Improv Jam)

May 4, 2024 By Dayton937

For one night only, one of the longest running improv comedy duos in Dayton will take the Dayton Playhouse’s stage and perform an hour long, completely improvised play. Inspired by an audience suggestion (and the set of the Dayton Playhouse’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Strictly Platonic will perform an hour long show, that you can’t miss, because it will never be seen again!

Stick around after the show for a beginner friendly improv jam where you can join in on the fun!

$15 tickets OR buy a ticket to the Dayton Playhouse’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and contact the Playhouse for $5 off tickets to the improvised play!

https://strictlyplatonic.simpletix.com/

Lobby opens 7:30, House opens 7:45, The show will begin at 8:00. The Jam will begin approximately 9:00pm

Strictly Platonic is made up of Aidan Mewha & Tyler Benedict. You can follow them on Instagram @strictlyplatonicimprov to see when and where they perform next!

Artist Marilynn Page: A Night At The Ballet

April 26, 2024 By Dayton937

The Edward A. Dixon Gallery in Downtown Dayton is collaborating with the Dayton Dance Initiative to put on a special Artist Reception for Marilynn Page and her Ballet inspired artwork.

An exhibition featuring several paintings by artist Marilynn Page will open First Friday, May 2024. “Marilynn was inspired by these powerful athletes to paint this particular series of work” says gallery owner Ed Dixon. He adds “The artwork is colorful, full of movement and shows the strength of these male and female dancers.”

The exhibition will open with an Artist Reception for Marilynn that will feature a performance by the Dayton Dance Initiative. A portion of the evening’s sales from the artwork will go to the Dayton Dance Initiative. The collective is made up of dancers from some of the area’s professional dance organizations. The dancers will put on a short performance the evening of the reception at 7pm with movements influenced by Marilynn Page’s artwork. “Through movement and live musical accompaniment, Dayton Dance Initiative dancers bring to life the ballet inspired paintings of Marilynn Page. Revel in Marilynn’s vision as it extends beyond the canvas into embodied expression, and ultimately into our hearts.” – Jennifer Sydor, Artistic Director, DDI.

The Artist Reception is free and open to the public and will be from 6pm-8:30pm(performance at 7pm) at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery located at 222 N. St. Clair Street. Light refreshments will be provided. Free on-street parking is available near the gallery. The exhibition will remain on view in May on Thursday through Sunday from 12pm-5pm each day except Fridays from 3pm-8pm.

The Edward A. Dixon Gallery

222 North St. Clair Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402

Thursday 12pm – 5pm
Friday 3pm – 8pm
Saturday 12pm – 5pm
Sunday 12pm – 5pm

InnovaTheatre presents: American Idiot

April 24, 2024 By Dayton937

American Idiot follows the exhilarating journey of a new generation of young Americans as they struggle to find meaning in a post-9/11 world, borne along by Green Day’s electrifying score. This high-octane show includes every song from the acclaimed album American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band’s Grammy-winning release, 21st Century Breakdown.

Peerless: A teen twist on Macbeth, Cut-Throat Tactics reign Supreme

April 21, 2024 By Dayton937

What would you do to get into your dream college? For twins M and L, the answer is…anything. Peerless by Jiehae Park tackles that question when it bursts onstage later this month at The Human Race Theatre Company. In this Macbeth-inspired satire, twins M and L’s dark and hilarious quest for college admission becomes a cut-throat exploration of ambition and high school drama.

“With shades of cult classics like Heathers, The Breakfast Club, and Cruel Intentions, Park’s incisive wit pokes at the achievement and over-achievements expected of teens today,” comments Emily N. Wells, The Human Race Theatre Company’s Artistic Director. “In addition, we are thrilled to be showcasing some of the fantastic talent emerging out of our SW Ohio training programs.”

Resident Artist and Artistic Director of Wright State University’s theatre program Marya Spring Cordes directs. The cast features current Cincinnati College of Music students Dinithi Fernando and Palini Sunkara as the twins, recent Wright State alum Matthew Shanahan (D and D’s Brother) and Sydney Freihofer (Dirty Girl/Preppy Girl), and University of Cincinnati grad Dominique Owen as BF.

Joining Cordes on the production team are: Ray Zupp, Scenic Design; John Rensel, Lighting Design; Maria F. Ortiz, Costume Design; James Dunlap, Sound Design; Sarah Gomes, Props; Alan Kim, Assistant Director; Mark Tynan, Production Stage Manager.

peerless will play in the Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton, April 25 – May 12, 2024. Tickets are on sale through the Dayton Live box office, 937-228-3630, or online at www.humanracetheatre.org

The Human Race Theatre Company continues its commitment to high quality theatre with access points for all with two ticket initiatives sponsored by Morris Furniture Company: two sections of $20 seats available at any time through the box office, and ten $10 rush seats available 90 minutes before any performance.

Special Nights at The Loft:

Pay What You CAN
Wednesday April 24, 8 pm – admission by non-perishable food donation for The Foodbank OR a cash donation to benefit DECA’s Senior Sendoff Bundles

Inside Track
Thursday, April 25, 8pm – Pre-show Discussion at 7:15pm

Post Show Discussion
Sunday, April 28, 2pm – Shakespeare and Adaptation

Industry Night/ Sawbuck
Sunday, April 28, 7 pm – $10 ticketsavailable at 5:30pm

While We’re On The Subject
Sunday, May 5, 2 pm – Post-Show Discussion with the cast

Parent’s Day Out
Saturday, May 11, 2 pm – Kids Separate Activities (5-12yo)

One Man, Two Guvnors

April 15, 2024 By Dayton937

Brighton, England. 1963. Change is in the air, and Francis Henshall is looking to make his mark. Fired from a skiffle band and in search of work, he finds himself employed by small-time gangster Roscoe Crabbe, in town to collect a fee from his fianceeâ€™s gangster father. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, herself in love with Stanley Stubbers (her brotherâ€™s killer) who, in turn, becomes our heroâ€™s other â€˜guvnorâ€™. Fighting a mounting sense of confusion, Francis goes out of his way to serve both bosses. But with the distractions of a pneumatic bookkeeper, a self-important actor and select members of the criminal fraternity (not to mention his own mammoth appetite) to contend with, how long can he keep them apart? Richard Beanâ€™s hilarious comedy received 5-star reviews from every London newspaper and was the hit of the 2012 Broadway season

Sam King + The Suspects and Strange Ranger at The Brightside

April 15, 2024 By Brandon Berry

Strange Ranger is pairing up with Sam King + The Suspects for a night of jazz, funk, rock, soul, and folk for a double-header show at the Brightside.

With an expansive repertoire like that, there’s gonna be a little something for everyone and a little of everything for someone — it’s like a three-day music fest packed into one night for the price of a couple of PBRs.

Dayton’s Strange Ranger — not to be confused with the Portland indie rock band of the same name — is, to borrow a word from the Romans, a badass triumvirate: Rob Brockman holds down the fort (the thumping backbeat); Rob Thaxton licks up his basslines; and Chris Coat commands the fretboard like a stoic.

Again, three for the price of one.

Sam King has a powerhouse voice further cemented by The Suspects she plays alongside. King wailed on the vocal solo in “The Great Gig in the Sky” in Black Jacket Symphony’s tribute to Pink Floyd and carved out a folky act back home, à la Joni Mitchell. Plus, opening up for Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire last year ain’t too shabby to have on a resume either.

Sam King + The Suspects have an acoustic set prepared as their drummer heals from an injury; Strange Ranger is the same as it ever was.

We’ve got a supportive music community here in Dayton; no band seems to step on another band’s toes to get ahead, and they often go the extra mile to say nice things about each other.

So, with that said, here is Strange Ranger on Sam King, and Sam King on Strange Ranger:

Strange Ranger: “Sam is an incredible musician supported by a group of other incredible musicians! They have such a great blend of soul, rock, and folk. We think it’s going to be an awesome mix that will highlight the similarities in our sounds but also showcase the diverse influences.”

Sam King: “It’s an honor to share an evening and stage with Strange Ranger. Their resumes are beyond impressive but beyond that, they’re incredible people who always put the music first. You can tell that they just dig every second of playing together and that’s a gift to witness. The Brightside has always done a sensational job of showcasing bands like that. I think the sets will be complimentary as some of our similar influences come through.”

There you have it, with a Brightside compliment to boot: nothin’ but good vibes, and nothin’ but a good time. How can you resist?

Sam King + The Suspects and Strange Ranger are playing The Brightside (905 E 3rd St, Dayton, Ohio 45402) on Thursday, April 18. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. Show is at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome. Presale tickets are $10 at VenuePilot, $15 at the door.