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
We are currently accepting full length plays and musicals that meet the following criteria: a cast size maximum of eight actors (doubling is fine!) AND at least one of the writers hails from the immediately surrounding area (OH, KY, IN, MI)
Submissions from marginalized people including women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and more are strongly encouraged.
Please fill out the form below to submit your piece. All submissions will receive a response within 6 - 8 weeks time.
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 7:30 p.m.
Opening / First Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays through Saturdays/ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Evening / 7:30 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 Tiffany Countryman 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 $3.50 per ticket Preservation Fee on all tickets in addition to 16% on single 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. Subscribers and members avoid these fees!
Excellent Theatre, Affordable Entry
We believe access to the theatre leads to the cultural enrichment of our community. To expand our reach, we offer a number of discounts and special performances that offer access to Human Race shows at a reduced cost.
Special Pay What You CAN Nights
Final dress rehearsals are open to our community with first come, first served general seating. Passes are distributed starting at 6:00 pm with either a non-perishable food item donated to THE FOODBANK or a cash donation for a thematically-related nonprofit organization.
Side seating is available at lower prices—$20 per ticket for every performance this season.
Select these affordable seats online when you purchase your tickets through Dayton Live’s website.
We now offer 10 seats for $10 per ticket at each performance.
Rush tickets are available for purchase in person when the Box Office opens 90 minutes before the show starts.
THE FOLLOWING RECEIVE 50% OFF FULL-PRICED TICKETS:
- U.S. Military members (active duty & retired) with Military ID
- Student/Child with Student ID
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT OPPORTUNITIES:
- Senior: 25% off regular full-priced tickets
- Member of a professional theatre association or union such as Actors’ Equity, Dramatist Guild, League of Cincinnati Theatres: Please email for discount requests.
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 Tiffany Countryman for more information.
Employment
Arts Management FellowThe Human Race Theatre Company is pleased to launch a Fellowship Program for emerging arts leaders in support of the 40th anniversary season. Under the current leadership of Executive Director Kappy Kilburn and Artistic Director Emily N. Wells, The Human Race has been sparking audiences and connecting with community since 1986. Fellows will gain valuable hands-on experience in arts management. We understand that navigating early career positions in the arts can be challenging; our fellows receive housing for the duration of their 10-month fellowship (if needed) at no cost to them.
Ideal for an early career individual pursuing non-profit administration functions, this fellowship will provide broad-based, direct support to the Executive Director in the areas of fundraising, marketing and communications, and database management systems. Activities may include:
- Gathering and reviewing data to assist in decision-making
- Working with the Marketing team to develop customized communication plans
- Preparing media pitches and promotional segments, community board listings
- Learning and assisting in database management and entry
- Supporting event planning across the company
- Special projects that align with the candidate’s skills and interests
Complete job description: HRTC 2025-26 ArtsMgmtFellow
To apply, send a cover letter of interest, a resume, and three references to submissions@humanracetheatre.org
The Human Race Theatre Company is pleased to launch a Fellowship Program for emerging arts leaders in support of the 40th anniversary season. Under the current leadership of Executive Director Kappy Kilburn and Artistic Director Emily N. Wells, The Human Race has been sparking audiences and connecting with community since 1986. Fellows will gain valuable hands-on experience in arts management. We understand that navigating early career positions in the arts can be challenging; our fellows receive housing for the duration of their 10-month fellowship (if needed) at no cost to them.
Ideal for an early career individual pursuing non-profit administration functions, this fellowship will provide broad-based, direct support to the Executive Director in the areas of fundraising, marketing and communications, and database management systems. Activities may include:
- Gathering and reviewing data to assist in decision-making
- Working with the Marketing team to develop customized communication plans
- Preparing media pitches and promotional segments, community board listings
- Learning and assisting in database management and entry
- Supporting event planning across the company
- Special projects that align with the candidate’s skills and interests
Complete job description: HRTC 2025-26 ArtsMgmtFellow
To apply, send a cover letter of interest, a resume, and three references to submissions@humanracetheatre.org
We’ve moved our auditions page.
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.
Playwright’s Night – Monday Night Series
Throughout the season, we will be hosting 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 Wednesday and 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 Dress 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 7:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before the preview performance of productions in the Loft series. Numbers are handed out to patrons at 6:00 p.m. and they are admitted in order when the house opens at 7:00 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 of both Sundays 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.