Monthly Archives: October 2016

Claire Kennedy, Jennifer Dorr White, and Joshua Levine in HAIL MARY! Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Tom Dudzick’s hilarious tale of an unorthodox novice at a crossroads takes the stage, November 3 – 20, 2016 at the Loft Theatre

(Dayton, OH) — The laughs are divine as The Human Race Theatre Company presents HAIL MARY!, its third production by comedic playwright Tom Dudzick. Plucky novice Mary is causing trouble again, teaching her own unorthodox views on God to the third graders at Saint Aloysius Catholic Elementary School, where she’s hardly a favorite with her conservative Mother Superior. Mary’s aspirations of becoming a nun are in further jeopardy when her childhood sweetheart reappears and declares his love. Will she give up a life of Sisterhood for the man of her dreams? Or will she choose another path and listen to an eccentric priest who proclaims her to be the world’s next savior in this delightful comedy that puts the “fun” in fundamentalism. The preview performance of HAIL MARY! is Thursday, November 3. Opening night is Friday, November 4.

After two previous hits by Dudzick on past Loft seasons, Human Race President & Artistic Director Kevin Moore was more than eager to mount another. “Our audiences—like those across the country—were bowled over during our 2008 production of Tom’s play, Over the Tavern,” says Moore. “And they were just as thrilled with our 2014 production of his Miracle on South Division Street. So, HAIL MARY! was an obvious choice, especially for our patrons who certainly enjoy his work.” Moore and Human Race Associate Artistic Director Tara Lail, who serves as the show’s producer, found the perfect director in the person of frequent collaborator Margarett Perry.

Perry, who is no stranger to directing comedic plays with weighty subject matter, is known to Dayton theatre goers from her work on The Human Race’s productions One Slight Hitch, Other Desert Cities and God of Carnage in the Loft Theatre and 2015’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike in the Victoria Theatre. Having been raised Catholic, Perry freely admits she can identify with the world of HAIL MARY!, but is quick to state, “It’s not a ‘Catholic’ play.” She explains what drew her to it, “At its heart, it’s a play about change and how difficult change is. It takes courage to change the way things are and to think differently about the way things have been and how they can be made better. That’s what I really like about the play. Yes, the play is funny, but it is also very moving.”Perry holds the title character in high regard, “Mary is fantastic. She is a person who is thinking her own thoughts and trying to make sense of things. But her ways challenge the status quo and that is never an easy path.”

CAST AND DESIGN TEAM

The cast of five includes some new and familiar faces to the Loft Theatre. Claire Kennedy (The Glass Menagerie, Lend Me a Tenor, Twelfth Night) holds the title role of “Mary.” Andréa Morales(Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil, #othello, The Full Monty) is her friend and fellow teacher, “Sister Felicia.” Resident Artist Scott Stoney (The Full Monty, Mame, Play It by Heart) takes his third turn with director Perry as “Father Stanley,” the priest with a plan for Mary. Making their Human Race debuts are Joshua Levine (Channeling Kevin Spacey Off-Broadway, As Wide as I Can See at HERE Arts Center) as Mary’s childhood love, “Joe,” and Jennifer Dorr White (Call Me Waldo, Sealed for Freshness and The Flashing Stream Off-Broadway) as “Mother Regina.”

Human Race Carpenter/Charge Artist Eric Moore is the scenic designer on his second Dudzick play in the Loft Theatre, having designed the set for 2014’s Miracle on South Division Street. Costume designer Janet G. Powell (Sweeney Todd, One Slight Hitch) returns for her fourth production with director Perry. Resident Artists John Rensel (lighting designer) and Jay Brunner (sound designer) round out the design team. Lexi Muller is the production stage manager.

Biographies on the cast and creative team can be found on The Human Race Theatre Company’s website.

The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of HAIL MARY! is sponsored by Marion’s Piazza, Burhill Leasing Corporation and Houser Asphalt & Concrete.

PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION

Tickets for the preview performance of HAIL MARY!! on November 3 start at $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $17.50 for students. For all performances November 4  – 20, single ticket prices start at $40 for adults, $37 for seniors and $20 for students. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seating location. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. The Human Race is offering a pair of discount ticket opportunities during the run of the show. A limited number of $12 and $25 side-area seats are available in advance for all performances. The Sunday, November 6 7:00 p.m. performance is “Sawbuck Sunday,” when any available seat can be purchased in person for just $10 at the Loft Theatre box office two hours prior to the show. Discounts are subject to availability and some restrictions apply.

All performances are at the Metropolitan Art Center’s Loft Theatre, located at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Show times for HAIL MARY! are 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Performances on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings begin at 7:00 p.m., and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday matinees.

Tickets and performance information on HAIL MARY! are available at www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office. 

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Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Human Race Theatre Company was founded in 1986 and moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 212-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces new works development and special event programming. Under the direction of President and Artistic Director Kevin Moore, the company also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, an In-School Tour, and a summer youth program. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, the Shubert Foundation, the Erma R. Catterton Trust Fund, the Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation, the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council, which helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The 2016-2017 Sustainability Sponsors are the ELM Foundation, Anne F. Johnson, Steve and Lou Mason, and Morris Home Furnishings. The 2016-2017 Loft season sponsor is the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation, with additional support from Premier Health.