FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, interviews, or press passes, please contact:
Leigh Allen, Marketing Director
leigh@humanracetheatre.org
(937) 461-3823, ext. 3112
THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY
PROUDLY ANNOUNCES THE
2009-2010 EICHELBERGER LOFT SEASON
DAYTON, OH - March 9 - From Little League to the Big Apple, from the glory that was Spain to the glamour that is Cleveland, from Charles Dickens to David Hare, the 2009-2010 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race Theatre Company will present loads of laughs, scores of songs, and even titillate the intellect a bit.
It’s a season of vision and fun, beginning with belly laughs at the Cleveland Opera in September, followed by one of the most inspiring musicals of all time, adapted from one of the greatest work’s of literature, and a reprise of The Human Race’s own adaptation of the foremost Christmas classic that was such a hit in 2008. After the New Year will come a look at the intermingling of world and personal affairs, followed in the spring by diamond drollery and a new work from a rising star in musical theatre.
The subscription season has been extended to cover all six Loft presentations. Subscriptions plans have been made more flexible, with an option of picking any three, four, or five shows, or all six. Naturally, the bigger the package, the better the deal – and prices for the same-sized package are staying the same as for the current season.
The six shows of the 2009-2010 Eichelberger Loft Season are:
LEND ME A TENOR
By Ken Ludwig
September 10-27
If you need a break from reality, where better place to go than Cleveland – especially the Cleveland Opera Company’s gala 1934 production of Otello, where the lead is to be played by the renowned Il Stupendo – or was, until things started to go dreadfully wrong, What follows is a zany chain-reaction of mistaken identity, double entendres and innuendoes which took Broadway by storm and piled up Tony and Drama Desk awards. You like sophisticated comedy? Lend Me a Tenor isn’t it – but it is a night of pure funniness and fun.
MAN OF LA MANCHA
Written by Dale Wasserman
Lyrics by Joe Darion Music by Mitch Leigh
Original Production Staged by Albert Marre
Originally Produced by Albert W. Selden and Hal James
October 29 – November 15
One of the greatest stories of all time turns into one of the most beloved musicals of all time, as the imprisoned Miguel Cervantes spins the tale of Don Quixote and his quest, in this winner of five Tony Awards. The audience of The Loft will be part of the setting as the Man of La Mancha becomes The Knight of The Woeful Countenance, dons the Golden Helmet of Mambrino, and leads Sancho Panza and Dulcinea as they dare to dream The Impossible Dream.
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Jennifer Johansen & Mark Douglas-Jones in the |
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Leigh Allan and Scott Stoney
Music arranged by Gregg Coffin
December 10 – 27
The 2008 premiere of this adaptation of the Dickens classic, designed especially for The Loft, was such a hit we’re making it a holiday tradition. Catch the spirit, and the spirits, as a Christmas party brings forth the tale of Scrooge’s evolution from the grim miser of bah and humbug to a light-hearted spreader of joy. It’s a production true to the original, but with a new twist or two to add to the fun – plus a wealth of delightful Christmas caroling.
THE VERTICAL HOUR
By David Hare
January 28 – February 14
The conflicts between an American war correspondent-turned-Yale-professor and her boyfriend’s British doctor father move from world affairs to personal motivations, from Iraqi wars to rocky relationships in what the Guardian of London calls a “rich, intellectually gripping play” by prolific Briton David Hare (Amy’s View, Skylight). Conflicts abound as activism takes on world-weariness, reality battles illusion, and youth confronts age, only to find itself confronted by greater youth.
ROUNDING THIRD
By Richard Dresser
March 11 - 28
What better way to celebrate spring than the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and two Little League coaches going head to head in what has to be the only baseball play to include Brigadoon, living in a van, and the fine art of equipment bag stuffing. Baseball buff Don, for whom winning is the only thing, is stuck with assistant coach Michael, who wants trophies for everyone, and whose only youth sport was, uh, well, curling. In Canada. The result is an exploding scoreboard worth of laughs.
ORDINARY DAYS
By Adam Gwon
June 10 - 27
In this Regional Premiere of a new musical, four young New Yorkers’ lives intertwine, sometimes knowingly and sometimes when they haven’t even met. Lost thesis notes; confetti fraught with fortune-cookie wisdom; loves sought, avoided, won and lost all combine to turn ordinary days and Ordinary Days into something extraordinary. Playwright/composer Adam Gwon won the 2008 Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting. When Ordinary Days played in London, What’s Onstage called it “brilliantly written.”
Each presentation is scheduled to run three weeks, with the same special events in each run: a Thursday night preview, preceded by the Inside Track discussion with the director(s) in the Loft lobby; Friday Opening Night followed by a party with the cast; a Tuesday night Lite Fare at The Loft; a “While We’re on the Subject” talkback after a Sunday matinee; and a Saturday signed and audio-described performance opportunity.
Subscriptions are available by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll-free at (888) 228-3630 or in person at the Schuster Center Box Office.
More information about the coming season and The Human Race Theatre Company and its many activities may be found at www.humanracetheatre.org.
The Loft Season is again sponsored by The Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation.
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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.