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RICHARD NIXON... J EDGAR HOOVER... TWO FBI AGENTS... JOHN LENNON
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

DAYTON, OH - October 8 - It’s the 1970s. America is embroiled in an unpopular war. President Nixon is vexed by the anti-war activities of Beatle John Lennon. J. Edgar Hoover assigns two FBI agents to keep tabs on Lennon.

EARS ON A BEATLE

Ryan Wesley Gilreath and Tim Lile in Ears on a Beatle

Photo: Scott J. Kimmins
EARS ON A BEATLE

Things don’t turn out quite the way Nixon and Hoover intended.

So goes Ears on a Beatle, the next presentation by The Human Race Theatre Company at The Loft Theatre. Playwright Mark St. Germain mixes the funny fictional tale of the two FBI agents with the not-so-funny real-life events of the ‘70s, events that have an eerie parallel to the current day. And a bunch of conspiracy theories are tossed into the mix.

From a set that emerges from 242 filing cabinet drawers to audio/visual insertions of the actual turmoil of the times, the Human Race production provides a surreal context that’s a match for Lennon’s most imaginative songwriting.

Ears on a Beatle is directed by Alan Souza, who last was in The Loft as a performer in Was, and who recently directed the world premier of the musical The Little Hours for the New Jersey Repertory Theatre.

Crusty FBI veteran Howard is played by Human Race Resident Artist Tim Lile, most recently seen in A Tuna Christmas and Moonlight and Magnolias. Rookie agent Daniel is played by Ryan Wesley Gilreath, who is new to The Loft stage but has performed locally in The Human Race’s touring show, Will Power, and in Blue Jacket and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for First Frontier.

Ears on a Beatle is produced by Human Race Artistic Director Marsha Hanna. Dan Gray designed the set, Laine June Marr the costumes, John Rensel the lighting, and Richard Dionne the sound. Scott J. Kimmins is the Technical Director, Heather Jackson the Stage Manager.

Ears on a Beatle will have a preview presentation October 16, with regular performances October 17 – November 2 at The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main Street, Dayton. Tickets and more information are available at www.humanracetheatre.org, or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630.

Sponsors for The Loft Season are The Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation, with additional support from NCR, Morris Home Furnishings, Premier Health Partners, the Sam Levin Foundation and Jim and Enid Goubeaux. Production sponsors for Ears are Burhill Leasing Corp., Richard Flagel Realty, Inc., Requarth Lumber Company and Dave Arnold.

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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.