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Leigh Allen, Marketing Director
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(937) 461-3823, ext. 3112
THE HUMAN RACE AND RHYTHM IN SHOES JOIN FOR BROTHER WOLF
DAYTON, OH - January 19 - Take one of most the famed legends of all time, move it to 19th century Appalachia, bring in traditional folk and old time gospel style music and a fiery preacher or two, then put two of Dayton’s foremost arts groups together for a gala stage presentation – and you’ve got the essence of Brother Wolf, coming to The Loft Theatre January 29 to February 15.
The Beowulf legend that has befuddled schoolchildren for a few centuries takes on a whole new life with Preston Lane’s book and Laurelyn Dossett’s music, and the stage of The Loft takes on a whole new life as The Human Race Theatre Company and Rhythm in Shoes combine their talents. This will be just the second production ever of Brother Wolf, and the first collaboration of the two performing groups since they combined with CityFolk for And That’s My Story in 1996 –and it will be the final such dual effort, since Rhythm in Shoes has announced it will dance into the sunset in 2010.
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Bruce Cromer and Aaron Vega in BROTHER WOLF |
This is only the second production of Brother Wolf, and the combination of the two groups has allowed it to be much fuller than the original run, which was at Triad Stage in North Carolina. The cast is twice as large. The musical numbers, which had been done by a band not part of the acting ensemble, is now sung and played by characters. And, as you’d expect with Rhythm in Shoes, there’s now plenty of dancing, which didn’t exist in the Triad presentation.
Not only are performers from The Human Race and Rhythm in Shoes joining in the presentation, but the direction is shared as well. Human Race Artistic Director Marsha Hanna is producing director, with Rick Good and Sharon Leahy of Rhythm in Shoes and Scott Stoney of The Human Race also directing.
The collaboration between the two groups is across the board, because Brother Wolf is being done in storytelling, ensemble form – actors, dancers and musicians all help tell the story and play the characters. All the directors except Hanna will perform roles, with Good also one of the instrumentalists.
Brother Wolf himself is played by Joshua Fossitt of Rhythm in Shoes, the evil monster Grin Dell by Human Race Resident Artist Bruce Cromer, and Grin Dell’s Maw by Morgan Grahame, recently in the HRTC production of Shenandoah. Ensemble members Aaron Vega (Five Course Love) and Kelly Mengelkoch (Shenandoah) come via The Human Race, and Kevin Anderson, Ben Cooper, Tina de Alderete, Jessica Jacobs, Carl Jones and Janet Schroeder from Rhythm in Shoes.
Human Race Technical Director Scott J. Kimmins and visual artist Tess Little designed the set, HRTC Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting, and Lowell Mathwich the costumes, with Tristan Cupp producing masks for the monsters. Heather Jackson is the Stage Manager.
Performances of Brother Wolf will be in The Loft Theatre at 126 N. Main in downtown Dayton at 8pm Wednesdays through Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, and 7pm Sunday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 3. Tickets are available via www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll-free at (888) 228-3630.
Production sponsors are the Berry Family Foundation, Emerson Climate Technologies, McGohan Brabender, The Muse Machine, The Producers’ Circle, the Roberts Foundation and Tim & Char Scroggins.
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Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 219-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces for the Victoria Theatre’s Broadway Series, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director Kevin Moore, also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock, and The Human Race Conservatory. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Shubert Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.