There is something special about experiencing a new play and then having the opportunity to dig a little deeper into the history, ideas, and stories that inspired it. As we get ready to open our 41st Season, we are thrilled to welcome audiences to Salem: Blood to Drink, a World Premiere by playwright Maggie Lou Rader.
Set during the Salem witch trials, Salem: Blood to Drink brings four accused women together in a jail cell as they navigate fear, survival, friendship, and the complicated ways history remembers women and the stories told about them. To help audiences explore the world surrounding the play, The Human Race Theatre Company is excited to partner with the Dayton Metro Library to offer a reading list inspired by Salem: Blood to Drink.
Whether you are a history lover, a theatre enthusiast, a reader looking for your next great book, or simply curious about all things witchy, these selections offer an opportunity to continue the conversation beyond the stage.
May We Suggest… Something Witchy?
These books are available through the Dayton Metro Library or can be reserved at DaytonMetroLibrary.org:
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
By Brom
I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
By Maryse Condé
By Quan Barry
By Kiran Millwood Hargrave
By Stacy Schiff
Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials
By Marion Gibson
We are incredibly grateful to our friends at the Dayton Metro Library for helping us connect theatre, history, literature, and our community. Partnerships like this allow the experience of a production to reach beyond the theatre and invite audiences to keep learning, questioning, and talking.
See Salem: Blood to Drink
Salem: Blood to Drink is playing:
October 14 through October 25, 2026
The Loft Theatre
126 N. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio
Performances include evening performances at 7:30 PM and Sunday and Saturday matinees at 2:00 PM. There is also a Pay What You Can performance on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 PM. The October 15 performance includes Inside Track, a pre-show conversation with the creative team, and the October 18 and October 25 performances include While We’re on the Subject, a post-show conversation with cast and thematic experts. October 25 is also our Parents’ Day Out performance, where children ages 5 to 12 can participate in a free theatre workshop while their grown-ups enjoy the show.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets range from $10 to $56.
Tickets are available through Dayton Live, the official ticket seller for Human Race Theatre Company. You can purchase tickets online through the Salem: Blood to Drink page on our website or call the Dayton Live Box Office at (937) 228-3630.
We cannot wait to welcome you to the beginning of Season 41.
Come see the World Premiere. Then pick up a book, turn the page, and keep the conversation going.