Michael & Sanday Bashaw. Photo credit: Blue Sky Project

Since its release in June 2013, the first locally-produced YouTube sensation “Where There is Love” has been viewed by over 200,000 people in more than 200 countries. Local artists, Michael & Sandy Bashaw, from the local band Puzzle of Light, organized the original video which featured 14 acts from jazz, reggae, spoken word and even The Burundi Royal Court Drummers.

The video presented Dayton to the world – via YouTube – in a very positive light to lots of people. Using music in this way to celebrate diversity and collaboration demonstrates to those outside Dayton that this is a great place to live, work and do business.

Prompted by its continued success and great enthusiasm from both the regional and global communities they are gearing up for making a brand new Dayton music video. As before, this project will be shot on-location in the greater Dayton area, and will feature artists from our home town. Filming will commence in mid-May. Producer David Sherman who directed the first video and will also be part of the creative team producing the sequel.

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“During our first collaboration, we discovered we absolutely loved working together and did so very efficiently as a team. So with this production experience under our belts we’re ready for a more ambitious project” shares Sandy Bashaw. “Micheal Bashaw explains, “we’ll be renting some specialized photographic equipment, and we’re delighted that Andy Snow has joined our team as Director of Photography. The new cast of musicians, singers and dancers is stellar!

This time, our community has the opportunity to play a part in making this new video happen. Welcome Dayton and Involvement Advocacy are partners as well as Culture Works and their new crowdfunding initiative – Power2Give. Through Power2Give, Dayton Power & Light is matching every dollar donated. Donors can simply go to power2give.org/DaytonRegion and look for our project, which is entitled “S.O.S – Share our Song.”

Dayton sits at the convergence of rivers – a perfect metaphor for the blending of people, cultures and ideas. Great things happen at the point of convergence. But we need for our regional and global communities to join us to make this happen. In this case, every dollar really DOES count.

Cyndii Johnson and Donnella Barbour (center) and the cast of 1913: The Great Dayton Flood

As images of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy linger in the recesses of the mind, Wright State University remounts its acclaimed 1996 production of “1913: The Great Dayton Flood” with compelling performances, soul-stirring music and outstanding atmospherics.

Inspired by Allan W. Eckert’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel “A Time of Terror: The Great Dayton Flood” and adapted by W. Stuart McDowell and Timothy J. Nevits, “1913” skillfully and seamlessly chronicles the catastrophic storm which changed the Miami Valley forever in March of that year. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the defining account, which affected a population of 116,000 and killed over 350, McDowell and Nevits interviewed numerous survivors whose captivating stories of heroism, resilience and tragedy terrifically propel the emotional potency within the insightful, moving play, which migrates all the way to the White House and particularly offers an eye-opening, unified portrait of Dayton’s diversity and spirituality at the time. The sheer connection to familiar individuals (John H. Patterson of the National Cash Register Company) and landmarks (the Rike’s building, the Victoria Theatre) are added benefits inherent to the episodic framework, heightened by Michael and Sandy Bashaw’s evocative new music and the colorful, commanding recorded narration of Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee and Dayton native Martin Sheen.

Returning to direct and aided by the cinematic appeal of Danielle Ferguson’s splendid lighting and projection design as well as scenic designer Pam Knauert-Lavarnway’s efficiently shifting platforms, McDowell provides sleek, sweeping staging for over 20 actors portraying over 150 characters. The excellently authoritative Sean Jones shines as the concerned Patterson, who kept NCR at the forefront of relief efforts and helped implement the Miami Conservancy District. Lawrence Dunford, genuine and humorous, absolutely charms as Negro League pitcher W.G. Sloan, a disinclined churchgoer who saved more than 300 people in his rowboat. Caroline Gruber relishes her saucy role as Pearl Street madame Lib Hedges. Cyndii Johnson brings Act 1 to a dynamic close as the staunchly determined Mrs. Stanton, who breaks through the roof of her house alongside her daughter (Donnella Barbour) to escape the rising waters. Tyrell Reggins as Rev. Primus Alston, Jim Miller as George McClintock, Samuel Blackburn and President Woodrow Wilson, Kelsey Pohl as Minnie Althoff, William Mendelson as Ray Stansbury, Ben Tracy as Charles Hopkins, Tyler Simms as Edward Hanley, and Samantha Kerger as Mildred Young are also notable among the endearing cast, tackling multiple roles with interchangeable ease and attractively costumed in period attire by Mary Beth McLaughlin. In addition, Nikki Wetter’s wonderfully choreographed depiction of the fateful weather pattern is vigorously executed at the outset.

As Dayton prepares to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the flood, “1913” remains a crowning achievement not to be missed.

“1913: The Great Dayton Flood” continues through Feb. 10 in the Festival Playhouse of the Creative Arts Center at Wright State University, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Fairborn. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (view performance calendar here). Act One: 70 minutes; Act Two: 50 minutes. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. For more information, call the WSU box office at (937) 775-2500.

Michael Bashaw