Tag Archives: Human Race Theatre Company

Katherine “Kappy” Kilburn.

Looking toward a bright future, The Human Race Theatre Company is proud to announce the addition of a new Executive Director

(Dayton, OH) — The Human Race Theatre Company is proud to announce the addition of a new Executive Director to their staff. Katherine “Kappy” Kilburn will join HRTC October 9.

“We are delighted to be giving Kevin Moore, President and Artistic Director, the management partner he has wanted for many years. The job is too big for any one person and Kappy will be Kevin’s perfect complement,” says Anne Brown, President of the Board of Trustees. “She is bright, energetic and loves the idea of making a difference in the Dayton community through The Human Race.”

Kilburn, who brings a wealth of theatrical management experience, will move from New York City, where she has proven leadership in not-for-profit and commercial theatre. Previously, she worked in Los Angeles with the Center Theatre Group and the Pasadena Playhouse. Most recently, Kilburn worked with Snug Harbor Productions and Puppet Phactory, a group focused on multi-disciplinary storytelling.

Kilburn holds an undergraduate degree from University of Missouri in Technical Theatre and a MFA from Columbia University in Theatre Producing and Management. Her passion for theatre and new works is exceeded only by her dedication to the careful management of the theatre. Kilburn, who specializes in contract negotiations and fiscal management, is looking forward to leading The Human Race toward a bright future.

Kilburn, whose father grew up in the Dayton area, is excited to come full circle and return to this community. “Theatre (and art in general) is always important in communities,” says Kilburn. “It reminds us that we are humans at our core and need to connect. The Human Race Theatre Company is a place to encourage and allow civil conversation and connection in these trying times. Having spent the last four years working between the not-for-profit and commercial theatre worlds, I look forward to bringing a fresh insight on managing work at the highest level of quality.”

As Kilburn assumes the business management of The Human Race, President and Artistic Director Kevin Moore is now able to focus his energies solely on the artistic functions of the company. “For the past eight years I have worn two hats as both Artistic Director and Executive Director of The Human Race,” stated Moore. “In that time, there have been many challenges for the company and the community. I look forward to passing the Executive Director hat to Kappy Kilburn, whose diverse theatre background makes her a perfect addition to The Human Race family. For my part, I look forward to being able to concentrate 100% on the artistic direction of the company. I believe that this combination will allow us to soar to new heights.”

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2018-2019 marks the 32nd season for The Human Race Theatre Company, “Dayton’s Official Professional Theatre Company.” Founded in 1986, The Human Race moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence in its current home, 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 outreach programs, as well as artist residencies in area schools and a summer youth program. Human Race organizational support is provided by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Culture Works, 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 2018-2019 Sustainability Sponsors are the ELM Foundation, Anne F. Johnson, Steve and Lou Mason, and Morris Home. The 2018-2019 Loft season sponsor is the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation.

The Human Race kicks off its 32nd Season with the World Premiere of Patricia O’Hara’s BANNED FROM BASEBALL, September 6 – 23, 2018 at the Loft Theatre

L to R: Marc Moritz, K.L. Storer, Doug MacKechnie, Patricia O’Hara (playwright), Brian Dykstra, and Scott Hunt. Publicity photos courtesy of Heather N. Powell.

“We are thrilled to be selected to premiere this exciting new play,” said Kevin Moore, President and Artistic Director. “This story hits home to so many in our region, and we are honored to be the ones to tell the story. Telling great stories that touch our lives is a big part of our mission.”

(Dayton, OH) —Like clockwork each Fall, the discussions around the Baseball Hall of Fame inductees begin. At the same time, the petitions to reconsider Pete Rose for the Hall of Fame resurface. It’s one of the most hotly debated topics in sports history. This September, The Human Race Theatre Company takes us back to 1989, when the battle for the soul of Major League Baseball hit its peak as Commissioner Bart Giamatti and Pete Rose, the reigning Hit King, lock horns in the world premiere performance of BANNED FROM BASEBALL, by Patricia O’Hara.

New York director Margarett Perry makes her tenth return to the Loft stage to helm this world premiere production. Perry’s last show at the Loft was the comedic hit, The House, which she recently directed in Scotland.

CAST AND DESIGN TEAM
The cast of five includes four Human Race veterans as well as a new face to local audiences.

Brian Dykstra, who appeared on Broadway with Tom Hanks in Lucky Guy and was last seen on the Loft stage in Lewis Black’s One Slight Hitch, plays Pete Rose. Chicago actor Doug MacKechnie makes his Human Race debut as Bart Giamatti. Scott Hunt, no stranger to the Loft stage (HRTC’s The Glass Menagerie, Sweeney Todd, and 26 Pebbles), will play Fay Vincent. Marc Moritz, (HRTC’s Mystery of Edwin Drood, Broadway’s Sondheim/Prince musical, Merrily We Roll Along) plays the role of Reuven Katz, and K.L. Storer (HRTC’s Caroline, or Change, Fiddler on the Roof) returns to The Race for the fourth time and will play the role of John Dowd.

Special Recorded Performance
“The script calls for voiceovers by an unnamed Sportscaster,” said Moore who reached out to Marty Brenneman, The radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds, “After reading the script, Brenneman eagerly agreed to lend the support of his unique voice to the project.”

Patricia O’Hara (Playwright) is a writer and Professor of English Literature at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, PA. At Franklin & Marshall she teaches all manner and forms of Nineteenth-Century British Literature, creative writing, and her course that has proven to be perennially popular: Baseball in American Literature and Culture. BANNED FROM BASEBALL is O’Hara’s first play.

Tamara L. Honesty (scenic designer) returns to the Human Race to design her 8th HRTC production. Janet Powell (costume designer), Resident Artists John Rensel (lighting designer) and Jay Brunner (sound designer) round out the design team. Jacquelyn Duncan is the production stage manager.

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

The preview performance of BANNED FROM BASEBALL is Thursday, September 6. Opening night is Friday, September 7.

The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of BANNED FROM BASEBALL is sponsored by Marion’s Piazza, Beth and Alan Schaeffer, and John and Tamara Clough.

PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION
Tickets for BANNED FROM BASEBALL start at $14. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seating location. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. The Sunday, September 9 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. Prior to the Tuesday, September 18 7:00 p.m. performance is “Beer, Here!”, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Additional information and details for “Beer, Here!” can be found on our website and Facebook Events page. 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 BANNED FROM BASEBALL 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 for BANNED FROM BASEBALL are available at http://www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office.

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2018-2019 marks the 32nd season for The Human Race Theatre Company, “Dayton’s Official Professional Theatre Company.” Founded in 1986, The Human Race moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence in its current home, 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 outreach programs, as well as artist residencies in area schools and a summer youth program. Human Race organizational support is provided by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Culture Works, 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 2018-2019 Sustainability Sponsors are the ELM Foundation, Anne F. Johnson, Steve and Lou Mason, and Morris Home. The 2018-2019 Loft season sponsor is the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation.

Jordan Laroya, Bruce Cromer & Shaun Patrick Tubbs. Photo by Immobulus Photography.

The Human Race closes its 31^st Season with all 38 of Shakespeare’s plays performed in just 97 minutes, May 31 – June 17, 2018 at the Loft Theatre.

(Dayton, OH) —This June, The Human Race Theatre Company (HRTC) is celebrating the Bard with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]. Get ready for a show like no other. It’s an irreverent, roller-coaster ride with the Bard that will leave you breathless with laughter as three incredibly talented actors take on all 38 of his plays in just 97 minutes… with a good amount of creative editing. Part improve-run-amok, part audience participation, all delightfully absurd, this merry mashup leaves no funny bone untickled and features a comic troupe lead by one of Ohio’s finest Shakespearean actors, Human Race Resident Artist Bruce Cromer.

“This is the perfect finale to our Season of Laughs,” said Human Race President & Artistic Director Kevin Moore.  “With all the zany antics of these three comedians, it is safe to say it will provide more laughs per minute than any previous show this season.  And that is saying a lot!  If you are a fan of Shakespeare, you will have a great time.  If you hate Shakespeare, you will ADORE this show.”

“I’m happy to be back in Dayton, Ohio,” said director Aaron Vega. “This is where I cut my teeth as a young theatre professional and I’m excited to bring this show’s ice-cream-sundae-with-sprinkles-and-chocolate-sauce brand of joy to a community that means so much to me. I don’t know about you, but I need a break from politics and news every once in a while and this show will be like a cleansing sorbet for your mind… or a bubble bath for your brain…. or a steak after a winter of potatoes… or… you get the idea.”

Aaron Vega (HRTC’s Sweeney Todd, Other Desert Cities and Director of Twelfth Night and Taking Shakespeare), an alumnus of Wright State University’s Professional Actors Training Program and The Human Race’s Artistic Apprentice program, returns to The Race to direct The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]. “With Aaron’s background in Shakespeare, comedy and the immersive theatre movement,” Kevin continued, “he is the perfect person to lead this merry band of clowns.”

The preview performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] is Thursday, May 31. Opening night is Friday, June 1.

CAST AND DESIGN TEAM
The cast of three includes two Human Race veterans and one new face to local audiences.

Bruce Cromer (HRTC’s Macbeth, I Hate Hamlet, I Am My Own Wife), Shaun Patrick Tubbs (HRTC’s Jitney, WB’s Gossip Girl, ABC’s General Hospital, Austin Shakespeare’s Macbeth), and Jordan Laroya (ShakespeareLIVE!’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, MaineStage Shakespeare’s Othello and Love’s Labour’s Lost.)

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 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] is sponsored by Emerson Climate Technologies, Marion’s Piazza, and Matthew J. Scarr, CPA LLC.

PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION
Tickets for the preview performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] on May 31 start at $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $17.50 for students. For all performances June 1 – 17, 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, June 3 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 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] 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 for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] are available at http://www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office.

# # #

2017-2018 marks the 31st season for The Human Race Theatre Company, “Dayton’s Official Professional Theatre Company.” Founded in 1986, The Human Race moved into the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence in its current home, 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 and a summer youth program. Human Race organizational support is provided by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Culture Works, 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 2017-2018 Sustainability Sponsors are the ELM Foundation, Anne F. Johnson, Steve and Lou Mason, and Morris Home. The 2017-2018 Loft season sponsor is the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation, with additional support from Premier Health, Heidelberg Distributing Company and Buckeye Vodka.