Human Race Leadership & Staff

Executive Director

KATHERINE “KAPPY” KILBURN

Kappy joined The Human Race Theatre family in 2018, moving from NYC where she served as the Associate General Manager at Snug Harbor Productions on Red Roses, Green Gold at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Kappy was also the Company Manager for GLORIA: A Life at the Daryl Roth Theatre. While in Los Angeles, Kappy served as Associate Director of Artistic Development at Pasadena Playhouse and Special Projects Coordinator at Center Theatre Group. She has produced numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions as well as awards ceremonies and fundraisers: The World of Nick Adams celebrity benefit for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camps; Stephen Sondheim’s 75th: The Concert at the Hollywood Bowl; CTG’s All About Gordon Farewell Gala for Gordon Davidson. She is a founder and former producer of Directors Lab West in Los Angeles and alumni of Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab. Kappy is a member of the Rotary Club of Dayton. MFA in Producing and Management from Columbia University.

Artistic Director

EMILY N. WELLS

Emily N. Wells began her tenure as Artistic Director in June, 2022. An award-winning theatre director, creative producer, and educator, Emily has cultivated a significant emphasis on new plays and musicals over 25+ years. The Human Race Theatre Company’s mission echoes her own: to open the doors of art and creativity to all people through stories that reflect our shared humanity.

After spending many years as a freelancer, Emily focused on community building through new work development as senior producer for Houston Grand Opera. Her role at HGO encompassed producing a vast scale of works, including the Telly Award-winning Star- cross’d opera web series. Emily staged the 2023 HGO world premiere of Another City, a new opera that tells the true stories of unhoused Houstonians and those who aid them. She also served as guest director and adjunct faculty at Houston’s prestigious Rice University, and led several fundraising efforts for congenital heart disease.

Emily’s directing credits include Wright State University, Gulfshore Playhouse, Circuit Playhouse, Theatreworks/USA among others. She holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Memphis, a BA in Theatre from Washington University in St. Louis, and is an SDC and AEA Member. In her early career, Emily stage managed on and off Broadway, regionally and on national tours – including a week for The Human Race’s production of Green Gables while in development in East Hampton during the summer of 2004.

She serves on the Advisory Board for Sinclair Community College Fine and Performing Arts, and is active in the National Alliance of Musical Theatre as well as serving on other reading and play selection committees.