General Contact Info
General Human Race questions: (937) 461-3823
Box Office/Ticket questions: (937) 228-3630
- Kappy Kilburn
- Phone: (937) 461-3823 ext. 3112
- kappy@humanracetheatre.org
- Costume Shop Manager
- Phone: (937) 461-3823 ext. 3121
- contact@humanracetheatre.org
- Tara Lail
- Creative Producer
- Phone: (937) 461-3823 ext. 3113
- tara@humanracetheatre.org
- Title of your play
- Synopsis of your play
- Number of characters (note if any double casting)
- Short playwright bio
- List any readings/workshops/performances of your play (private or public)
Email to Emily N. Wells, Artistic Director: emily@humanracetheatre.org
Please allow up to 3 months for a reply.
The beauty of theatre is the dialogue it creates among our audience members. We love hearing what you think. So… send us an email and let us know. Did you like a show? Do you have an opinion on a idea or topic in one of our shows? Are you a fan of one of the performers? Do you have a suggestion for a show you’d like to see? Would you like to volunteer to help on a Board committee?
Send us an email: contact@humanracetheatre.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Individual show prices vary depending on your preferred performance and seating location. Preview performances are the least expensive, and weeknights cost less than weekends. Tickets to productions in the Loft Theatre typically range from $10 - $53, but are subject to change. Discounts for seniors, military, and students are available.
As a contemporary theatre company, most of our productions on the Loft season are suitable for adults and older teens as they frequently contain adult language and subject matter. If you are interested to know if a certain production is suitable for younger teens or preteens, please feel free to call or email us. Children under the age of 6 are not permitted at our productions in the Loft Theatre.
Day / Time
Preview / First Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Opening / First Friday at 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays / 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays / 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays / 8:00 p.m.
Fridays / 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays / 8:00 p.m.
Sunday Evening / 7:00 p.m. (First Sunday only)
Sunday Matinees / 2:00 p.m.
We recommend you arrive 30 minutes prior to curtain when the theatre doors open, especially if you have tickets waiting at Will Call. The Loft lobby is open two hours prior to curtain. While you wait for the show to start, feel free to enjoy a drink or snack from the Loft Bar.
Performances begin promptly. Latecomers will be seated at the house manager’s discretion, and may have to watch the performance on a video monitor in the lobby until they can be seated. Patrons who leave the Loft Theatre during a performance may—at the sole discretion of the house manager—be re-seated, although possibly in different seats, during the performance. This is a policy we must enforce without exception, due to the layout of the Loft and for the safety of our actors and enjoyment of audience members.
If you are a Loft subscriber and the tickets in question were purchased as part of a subscription package, they may be exchanged for free (no fees) until one hour before curtain the day before your scheduled performance. There may be an up-charge if you exchange into a more expensive performance.
Non-subscribers may exchange their tickets for a different performance of the same show for a flat $5 fee until one hour before curtain the day before your scheduled performance. Exchanges can be made by phone (937-228-3630) or in person.
Otherwise, if at the last minute you are unable to use your tickets, you may turn them in as a contribution to The Human Race Theatre Company. The value of the donated tickets is tax-deductible and acknowledged by mail. Tickets for past performances cannot be considered a donation.
There are no refunds.
Free assistive listening devices are available at the Loft box office prior to the performance by exchanging a license or credit card. No advance reservations are required.
Scripts for those with hearing loss are available with two weeks’ notice. Contact Tara Lail for more information.
The Metropolitan Arts Center building and Loft Theatre are fully ADA accessible.
If you require wheelchair seating, please contact Dayton Live directly at 937-228-3630.
We are working toward providing audio & visual interpretive capabilities at every performance from every seat. Please reach out to us with any questions.
Dayton Live
Phone: 937-228-3630
Online: www.daytonlive.org
Schuster Performing Arts Center lobby
One West Second Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Loft Theatre lobby
126 North Main Street
3rd Floor
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Open two hours prior to performance only
Dayton Live charges a $3 per ticket Preservation Fee on all tickets. (The Human Race already includes this fee on all stated ticket prices.)
Ticket Center Stage charges an additional 16% per ticket Service Fee on all tickets purchased online and by phone.
The Human Race Theatre Company has created a variety of discount options in order to make theatre an accessible art form for all audiences.
Human Race Memberships
You'll be in great company with our monthly Membership Plan, which allows you to join an exclusive group, get early access to prime seats, and enjoy special extras throughout the season.
Flexible Show Packages
Choose from 3-show or 4-show options for the 2022-23 season. This season, we’re offering two curated experiences, as well as a build-your-own adventure option.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FLEXIBLE SHOW PACKAGES
Pay What You CAN Night
Get a sneak peek at our productions and support a great cause. Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. prior to the opening of a show, we offer audiences the opportunity to attend an open rehearsal. The price of a ticket: bring a cash donation of your choice that will go to one of a number of The Human Race’s partnering non-profit, service-based organizations, or a non-perishable food item for The Foodbank. Tickets are first-come, first-served and are handed out starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Loft lobby. One ticket per person.
$17 and $29 Side Seats
Buy early and save. We offer a limited number of seats to each performance for as little as $20. These seats are available as soon as tickets go on sale.
“Sawbuck Sunday”
The first Sunday 7:00 p.m. performance of each Loft Series production: At 5:00 p.m., all available seats are $10 cash (a “sawbuck”). Tickets available at the Loft box office day of show for walk up sales only. One ticket per person.
Group Tickets
Groups of 10 or more receive discounts starting at 10% off. Contact Betty Gould at (937) 461-8295 for more information and to book your group.
Special Discounts
Members of the following groups receive discounts of 50% off full priced adult tickets with presentation of valid ID upon purchase of tickets. There is a maximum of two tickets per ID. Tickets are based upon availability and may not be combined with other offers or discounts, or be applied retroactively.
- Actors’ Equity Association members
- League of Cincinnati Theatres members
- City of Dayton current employees
- U.S. Military members (active duty and retired): Blue Star military tickets
- Students (may be ordered online but ID must be shown at Will Call to pick up tickets)
The Human Race does provide ticket vouchers to select regional non-profit organizations for use as a fundraising tool. Please provide us with at least one month’s notice prior to your event. Contact Tara Lail at (937) 461-3823 x3113 for more information.
Employment
Executive Assistant
The Executive Assistant supports and reports to the Executive Director and Artistic Director, and will primarily interface with The Human Race Theatre Company’s visitors, board, staff, and artists. Additionally, this role engages in logistical, organizational, and moral support of the entire staff. As such, the Executive Assistant should be an excellent communicator, possess an engaging personality, sense of humor, attention to detail, and efficient organizational methods to track multiple priorities simultaneously. This role also supports the Creative Producer and the Engagement and Learning Coordinator as needed. For more information and qualifications, please see the full job description here.
2023-24 Season Auditions (In-person)
We’ve announced our 2023-2024 season, Stories in Motion, and we’re excited to open auditions and ultimately bring these incredible stories to life. All of the details are below.
Plays only: Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 9 AM – 6 PM
Plays & Musicals: Sunday, April 23, 2023 | 9 AM – 6 PM
Location
HRTC Rehearsal Studio | 126 North Main Street, 2nd Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45402
The maximum number of individuals allowed in the audition room is 4.
The maximum number of individuals in the holding room is 6.
Set-up an audition appointment:
Audition appointments are available starting on Tuesday, April 11.
Call Tara Lail, Creative Producer, at 937-461-3823 x 3113 between 10 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
** No voice messages, please. Call back. No emails, please. **
Video Submissions:
Video Submissions will be accepted April 17 – 23 and should be emailed to Tara Lail: tara@humanracetheatre.org
The Human Race Theatre Company encourages auditions from performers of all ages, races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
Preparations
FOR PLAYS-ONLY AUDITIONS:
- Be prepared with two contrasting contemporary 1.5-minute monologues.
FOR MUSICAL-ONLY AUDITIONS:
- 32 bars each of two pop comedy songs.
FOR BOTH PLAYS AND MUSICAL AUDITIONS:
- 32 bars each of two pop comedy songs AND
- Two one-minute contrasting contemporary monologues
Auditions will be held for the following shows & roles:
THIS IS TOM JONES!
(World Premiere)
Music by Paul Mirkovich
Book & Lyrics by Mark Brown
First Rehearsal: August 14, 2023
Performances: September 7 – 24, 2023
The 1960s British Pop Invasion meets the greatest novel ever written! THIS IS TOM JONES! takes Henry Fielding’s thrilling adventure of the heart masterpiece and sets it to that frenzied mop-top-led era of music of the 1960s known as the British Invasion. Aristocrats, wenches and scalawags abound in this bawdy and rollicking romp through the back roads and bedchambers of England.
Man 1 – Baritone/Bari-tenor – 30’s
PARTRIDGE, the narrator
SQUARE, Philosophy tutor. Hypocrite.
BARBER, actually is Partridge under a different name
MAGISTRATE
Man 2 – Baritone – 40’s – 50’s; only ensemble vocals
SQUIRE ALLWORTHY, Tom’s guardian. Lives up to his name
BLACK GEORGE, one of Allworthy’s servants
HIGHWAYMAN, an outlaw
FITZPATRICK, Harriet Fitzpatrick’s husband. A hot-headed Irishman.
Man 3 – Baritone/Bass-baritone – mid 20’s
CAPTAIN BLIFIL, Bridgit Allworthy’s husband. A conniving blowhard
BLIFIL, Captain Blifil and Bridgit Allworthy’s son. A simpering, manipulative & annoying prig
SUSAN, employee at the Upton Inn. Surly, sex crazed and quick to anger.
Man 4 – Tenor – mid 20’s
TOM JONES, Squire Allworthy’s ward. Sexy. Charming.
Man 5 – Bari-tenor – 40’s – 50’s
SQUIRE WESTERN, Sophie’s father. Foulmouthed. Lacks social graces
FIRST ACT DOWLING, Squire Allworthy’s lawyer
SOLDIER
Woman 1 – Mezzo – 50’s
BRIDGET ALLWORTHY, Squire Allworthy’s sister. Not the prettiest girl on the block.
DOCTOR, pretty much what it sounds like
MISS WESTERN, Squire Western’s sister. A know-it-all spinster.
MRS.WHITEFIELD, owner of the Upton Inn. A bit of a nervous Nellie. Has a dark side.
LADY BELLASTON, Sophie Western’s cousin. A high society cougar.
SOLDIER.
SECOND ACT DOWLING, Squire Allworthy’s lawyer
Woman 2 – Mezzo – 30’s – 40’s
DEBORAH WILKINS, servant to Squire Allworthy. Ribald and indelicate.*
MOLLY, Black George’s daughter. Lowest hanging fruit on the tree when it comes to shagging.
HONOUR, Sophie Western’s handmaiden. Loyal. Sassy.*
CECILIA, Harriet Fitzpatrick’s handmaiden. Loyal.*
JANE, Lady Bellaston’s servant. Sassy.*
MASKED WOMAN.
SOLDIER.
DEBORAH, HONOUR, CECILIA and JANE are quadruplets.
Woman 3 – Mezzo – 40’s
JENNY JONES, Tom Jones’ presumed mother.
THWAKUM, religion tutor.
MRS WATERS, one of Tom Jones’ lovers. Turns out to be Jenny Jones under a different name. MASKED WOMAN
Woman 4 – Soprano – 20’s
SOPHIE WESTERN, Squire Western’s daughter. Determined. Not easily pushed around. Pretty.
HARRIET FITZPATRICK, Sophie Western’s cousin. Escaping a bad marriage.
ANGRY, RAUCOUS, AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS
By Pearl Cleage
First Rehearsal: October 2, 2023
Performances: October 26 – November 12, 2023
After decades of self-imposed exile in Amsterdam, actress Anna Campbell and her manager Betty Sampson receive an invitation to remount their controversial performance piece “Naked Wilson.” Uncertain of her reception, Anna meets her possible replacement, an ambitious young performer chosen whose experience is limited to the adult entertainment industry. These two women confront their differing world views with humor, grace and still manager to find common ground.
Betty Samson – a 65-year-old African American woman; manager/agent; looking for a home
Anna Campbell – a 65-year-old African American woman; actress and performance artist; looking for a future
Kate Hughes – a 45-year-old African American woman; producer; looking for a hit
Precious “Pete” Watson – a 25-year-old African American woman; burlesque artist; looking for a change
REINDEER SESSIONS
(World Premiere)
By Eric Ulloa
First Rehearsal: November 27, 2023
Performances: December 13 – 23, 2023
After a fight that left history’s most famous reindeer with a broken red nose, Blitzen is forced into a series of Anger Management therapy sessions by Kringle Enterprises. Tasked with finding the cause of his violent outburst, his therapist Dr. Arbor hopes to help him understand what led him to this moment and if he can save his job on the reindeer squad. What she doesn’t expect is a hilarious journey through what really happened on that foggy Christmas Eve. you won’t look at the North Pole the same way again in this hilarious and unexpected ride!
Dr. Arbor – 50, female-identifying psychologist, quirky, who has lost her belief in holiday magic
Blitzen – 30s, male-identifying reindeer, stuck in his glory days, anger management issues, thwarted artist
SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT (AS TOLD BY HIMSELF)
By Donald Margulies
First Rehearsal: January 29, 2024
Performances: February 22 – March 10, 2024
The adventurous Louis de Rougemont invites you to hear his amazing story of bravery, survival and celebrity that left 19th century England spellbound. Dare to be whisked away in a story of the high seas, populated by exotic islanders, flying wombats, giant sea turtles and a monstrous man0eating octopus. SHIPWRECKED! examines how far we’re willing to blur the line between fact and fiction in order to leave our mark on the world.
Louis de Rougemont – 60’s, male-identifying. A dreamer and explorer who wants to share his adventures with the world.
Player #1 – 20’s – 40’s female-identifying. Physically agile. Plays or gives voice to multiple roles
Player #2 – 20’s – 40’s male-identifying. Physically agile. Plays or gives voice to multiple roles
PEERLESS
By Jiehae Park
First Rehearsal: April 1, 2024
Performances: April 25 – May 12, 2024
Asian-American twins M and L have given up everything to get into The College. So, when D, a one-sixteenth Native American classmate gets “their” spot instead, they figure they’ve got only one option: kill him. A darkly comedic take on Shakespeare’s MACBETH about the very ambitious and the cut-throat world of high school during college admissions.
All roles must appear to be high-school senior age.
M – L’s twin sister. Asian heritage.
L – M’s twin sister. Asian heritage. Strategic, manipulative.
BF – M’s boyfriend. Black.
D – male, looks (really) white. Native American heritage. Doubles as D’s Brother.
Dirty Girl – a.k.a. That Weird Girl in High School. White. Doubles as Preppy Girl.
About The Human Race Theatre Company
The Human Race Theatre Company is a professional theatre that works under a Small Professional Theatre Contract (SPT 6) and performs in the Loft Theatre, a 212-seat thrust stage.
Emily N. Wells, Artistic Director | Kappy Kilburn, Executive Director | Tara Lail, Creative Producer
- Rehearsals are primarily Monday – Friday evenings, and daytime on weekends.
- Auditions are open to Non-Equity and Equity Actors (unless otherwise noted), with Non-Equity actors having the opportunity to join the Equity Membership Candidacy Program.
- We are looking for age-appropriate actors.
- All roles open to all gender identities and ethnicities.
Productions and Beyond
The Loft Season
Our signature subscription season at the Loft Theatre consists of plays and musicals, classics, and premieres. Productions on the Loft Season are rehearsed, built and produced in Dayton. The Human Race produces under a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers.
The Victoria Theatre
From time to time, we present special events on the historic 1,100-seat theatre’s stage, like 2015’s Lewis Black in Concert and 2017’s co-production of A Christmas Story with the Victoria Theatre.
Monday Night Playreading Series
Throughout the season, we will be hosting table readings of plays considered to be some of the best the theatre world has to offer, and all works of interest to The Human Race as potential full-productions. Open to the public and voiced by many of the region’s top performers, these readings provide an opportunity for theatre lovers to hear and enjoy scripts they may not be able to experience otherwise.
Preview Performance
Our preview performance is on the Thursday evening prior to our Friday evening openings. In the tradition of Broadway, it offers a significantly reduced ticket price and is available for both subscription and single ticket buyers. (See Inside Track)
Pay What You CAN Open Rehearsal
A special sneak peek with the admittance of a cash donation of your choosing that will go to a not-for-profit service organization (which varies on a production-by-production basis) or canned goods/non-perishable food items to The Foodbank. This serves community needs as well as patrons who may find the regular performances more than their budgets can afford.
Pay What You CAN open rehearsals occur at 8:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the preview performance of productions in the Loft series. Numbers are handed out to patrons at 6:30 p.m. and they are admitted in order when the house opens at 7:30 p.m.
Inside Track
A pre-show discussion with the show’s director held in the Loft Lobby 45 minutes prior to the Thursday Preview. This is an opportunity for the audience to meet the director and learn about the creative process of producing the play they are about to see.
While We’re on the Subject
A moderated discussion held with the cast and the audience members immediately following the matinee performance on the second Sunday of a production. Frequently, a guest speaker joins the group to offer unique commentary concerning the topics brought to light by the production.
The Loft Bar
Soda, wine, beer, mixed drinks and snack items are available in our lobby for every show. Drinks may be taken into the Loft during the performance.
Education & Engagement Programs
Learning & Engagement
With our Stages and Stories program, The Human Race works with social service organizations and community partners to provide arts learning opportunities for those not served by traditional Arts Education programs. These opportunities range from paid internships and job shadowing to playwrighting workshops for teens to adults.
Throughout each season, we partner with other Dayton organizations to present conversations around the material and themes of the productions. These opportunities allow us to open our doors for civil discourse while raising awareness about opportunities and challenges in our community.
Special Events
The Human Race plans special productions, concerts and fundraising events each season to enhance our audience’s experience. Examples include holiday productions, Lewis Black in concert at the Victoria Theatre, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley in Concert and Mardi Gras fundraisers.