By Robert O’Hara
In this hilarious and devastating comedy by Robert O‘Hara, the four O’Mallery siblings have planned a barbecue picnic for their youngest sister, Barbara, but it is more of an intervention to confront her outrageous behavior and reckless drug and alcohol use. We soon learn that the entire family is a mess and each sibling is in need of their own intervention. Lillie Anne calls James “white trash,” maybe because he brought a Taser along just in case Barbara gets out of hand. The scene ends – blackout. When the lights return, so do the four siblings: same park, same situation, same personalities, but they are black instead of white. From that moment the two parallel families alternate, and the barbecue becomes raucous and unpredictable. Racial politics collide with family stereotypes, survival and America’s fascination with self-destruction as entertainment.
$10 - $53
TBD
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Executive DirectorKappy Kilburn
Artistic DirectorEmily N. Wells
Creative ProducerTara Lail
Present:
DIRECTOR EBONI BELL DARCY
SCENIC DESIGNER TAMARA L. HONESTY#
COSTUME DESIGNER L’AMOUR AMEER
LIGHTING DESIGNER JOHN RENSEL
SOUND DESIGNER ANTONIO LOPEZ
Production Stage Manager MARK TYNAN*
Assistant Stage Manager RACHEL HEINE*
Time:
Place:
JAMES T
Rico is excited to make his debut with The Human Race Theatre. Proud member of Actors’ Equity, he was born and raised in Dayton, OH. Favorite theatre credits include TopDog/Underdog, Belleville, Colossal, The Brothers Size, Gem of the Ocean, Blue Orange, King Hedley II, A Raisin in the Sun, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Stagger Lee, Every Tongue Confess, Passing Strange, and The Exonerated. He will be making his film debut as Evan in HBO Max’s Turtles All the Way Down.
JAMES T
Josh is thrilled to return to HRT after playing Don/Silas in Deadline and Luke in Everything That’s Beautiful. A 17-year member of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA, Josh has performed in over 25 productions there, including: The Tempest, Cymbeline, Comedy of Errors; Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged); Mother Courage and Her Children (starring Olympia Dukakis); Love’s Labour’s Lost; 39 Steps; Hound of the Baskervilles; As You Like It; Mystery of Irma Vep; Winter’s Tale; Richard III; Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Merry Wives of Windsor. Off- Broadway: Peep Show (Actor’s Playhouse). Regional: Berkshire Theatre Group, Oldcastle Theatre, Connecticut Rep, Madison Rep., Forward Theater, Milwaukee’s Chamber Theatre, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Milwaukee’s Renaissance Theaterworks. National commercials, Daytime Serials and “Saturday Night Live.” Josh serves as the Head of Acting at Wright State University. AEA & SAG-AFTRA.
LILLIE ANNE
Burgess (she/her) is delighted to be back at The Human Race after last appearing in Gloria: A Life in 2019 cut short by the pandemic. A Cincinnati-based artist, this season she was seen in the world premiere The Living Dead (Nana) at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Sweat (Cynthia) at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Recently, she was a Guest Artist at the University of Madison-WI in August Wilson’s Fences (Rose). Some of her favorite credits include: School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Headmistress Francis) – Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, Detroit ’67 (Bunny) – Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Skeleton Crew (Faye) – Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Raisin In The Sun (Lena Younger), the one person shows Pretty Fire and Neat (Charlayne) – Know Theatre Cincinnati, Harry and The Thief (Shiloh Pitt) – Know Theatre Cincinnati, Merchant of Venice (Shylock) – Guest Artist at Univ. of Texas Austin, Avenue Q (Gary Coleman) – The Carnegie Theatre. On film, you can catch her in the recently released Bones and All and upcoming Challengers (2023). Thank you for coming and supporting live theatre!!
LILLIE ANNE
Darlene is delighted to be back at The Human Race, having previously been in Around the World in 80 Days (Detective Fix and others), and readings of If All The Sky Were Paper (various), and Sweat (Tracey). She is a transplant to Dayton from Ontario, Canada where she has been an actor, director, and educator for the past 30 plus years. Favorite roles include: Phaedra in Dear Euripides (Inter Arts Matrix), Bernarda in The House of Bernarda Alba (RCPA), Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Resurgence Theatre), Paulina in A Winter’s Tale (York Theatre). For the past five years, Darlene has been a teaching artist in residence with the HRTC, directing Shakespeare at Dominion Academy. She is honored to play a part in telling this evocative and provocative story alongside this incredible team of people.
ADLEAN
Marva is excited to be performing with this wonderful cast at the Loft for THEE Human Race Theatre yet again. It has been a long while, but a lady never tells her age soooooo just know it has been too long and she is so excited to be back on this beautiful stage. When she is not acting, she is spending time with her husband and 2 beautiful sons Judah and Jah. Ms. Marva personal trains a group of lovely ladies in #LyfeStyleFit Challenges as well. Previous shows include Change, A Raisin in the Sun, Murder Me, Murder Me Not, The Exonerated, The King Stag, Intimate Apparel, Gem of the Ocean, Sisterhood of SurHIVors, and various commercial ads. Marva would like to thank her wonderful family for their love, strength and support…Matt.5:16.
ADLEAN
Lisa (she, her, hers) is a Singer, Musician, Actor and playwright based in Washington, DC. Her most notable work is with the New York City rock band Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday. From 2000-2006 Lisa and Girl Friday were a featured act at NYC’s most notorious rock club CBGB’s and one of the headlining acts at the monthly party Homocorp. Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday were also one of the few queer bands at the time that were being featured at pride events around the country where they shared the stage with bands such as The Psychedelic Furs, The Motels, and Pat Benatar. Lisa is also the author and composer of her one-woman autobiographical musical Trans Am. In 2022 Trans Am received its world premiere at the Keegan Theater in Washington DC and was featured in the Hangar Theater’s summer season. Trans Am had it’s New York City primer at Joe’s Pub this past March. In the Fall of 2002 Lisa performed the role of Maura in the workshop of Transparent by Joey and Faith Soloway and directed by Tina Landau. Prior to her years with Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday, Lisa worked as an actor and singer in NYC performing in numerous regional productions in theater such as Goodspeed Opera House, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The Ordway Theater. In 1999 Lisa toured the country in the National touring company of The Buddy Holly Story. Barbecue is Lisa’s Debut with The Human Race Theatre and is very excited to be reunited with her old friend and colleague Emily Wells!
MARIE
A.J. (she/her) is overjoyed to share her work with The Human Race Theatre for this production of Barbecue. A.J. is a Cincinnati based multi-disciplinary theater artist originally from Montgomery, AL. Her play, The Twunny Fo’ recently received its world premiere at The Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Selected Acting credits include: Crimes of the Heart (Meg Magrath) at American Stage Theatre; The Twunny Fo’ (Tyra), Zack (Gina), and The Absentee (Beacon) at Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Hamlet (Rosencrantz) and Taming of the Shrew (Ensemble) at Cincinnati Shakespeare Co.; Intimate Apparel (Esther), Antony and Cleopatra (Chairman) at Theatre at Monmouth; A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Past/Lucy) at Trinity Repertory Company. A.J. sends love to all who may be reading!
MARIE
Mierka is thrilled to return to The Human Race Theatre. Dayton audiences have seen her as Teresa in Our Lady Of Perpetual Help, Maria Callas in Master Class and Tina Turner and Leslie Gore in Beehive among many others. An ensemble member with Chicago’s A Red Orchid Theatre, some of Mierka’s highlights include Sweat at The Goodman, Bella Abzug/Ruth in Gloria at the McCarter Theatre Center and Ester in Mistakes Were Made with Michael Shannon. Upcoming feature films include: Sheila in Eric Larue, directed by Michael Shannon, and Mom in The Bike Riders, directed by Jeff Nichols.
BARBARA
Oluchi is ecstatic to be making her Human Race Theatre debut in Barbecue. Last seen in Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play at CATCO. Previous credits: Lights Up! 2021 at City Lights Theatre, Under Milk Wood at The Pear Theatre, Sappho at Cutting Ball Theatre, The Claim at Shotgun Players, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Marin Shakespeare Company, Macbeth at African-American Shakespeare, We are Proud to Present… at San Jose Stage. Oluchi holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Florida. She is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Miami University – Go RedHawks! You can follow her on Instagram @loochluch.
BARBARA
Erin is so excited to be making her HRTC debut after a 3-year break from live theater for Baby #1, A Pandemic, and Baby #2! Favorite credits include: The Night Watch – The Gamm (U.S. Premiere), Silent Sky – Flat Earth Theatre (Elliot Norton Award Nomination), Sense and Sensibility – Maiden Phoenix (IRNE Award Nomination), The Lowell Offering –Merrimack Repertory. Recent Film/TV credits include: Pat Hackett in The Collaboration with Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany (premiering in 2023), Saint Clare (premiering in 2023), Chicago Fire.
Love to my stars Jeff, Adelaide, and Hart.
Eboni is a Stage Director, Choreographer and Theater Administrator from Houston, TX. She is the Inclusion, Engagement, and Training Director for Stages in Houston where she heads the advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion through educational, artistic, and community programming. In 2020, Stages, with leadership from Eboni and in partnership with Art Equity, conducted a year-long Anti Racism Facilitation training for the Houston Arts Community. Eboni is a member of the BIPOC Arts Network and Fund Steering Committee. BFA: Sam Houston State University. She is a co-founder of the youth theater Iconotheatrix. Member of the 2021 Houston Anti-Racism Facilitation Cohort trained by ArtEquity. 2021 ArtEquity BIPOC Leadership Circle Member. Credits include: Stages: Plumshuga (Co – Director, New Work) Black Super Hero Magic Mama (Director), You Are Cordially Invited To Sit-In (Producer), Panto Little Mermaid (Choreographer), Fatherland (Stage Director, New Work), Panto Hansel & Gretel (Director, New Work). Houston Grand Opera: Katie: The Strongest of the Strong (Director and Choreographer, New Work), Marian’s Song (Assistant Director, New Work). Iconotheatrix: Director/Choreography: Spring Awakening, Chicago, Rent, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Choreography: Heathers: The Musical, Carrie. Express Children’s Theatre: Freedom Train (Director).
Tammy is excited to return to her artistic home of The Human Race Theatre! This show marks the 15th show she has designed here in the last 18 years. A few of her favorite designs at HRTC include Gloria: A Life!, Banned from Baseball, Family Ties, Crowns, Other Desert Cities, Becky’s New Car, Lombardi, and Managing Maxine. She also enjoys designing theatre for young audiences, having designed ten shows for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Educational Touring Company. This past fall, she designed the world-premiere of The Memory Exam, and it was her Off-Broadway debut. Tammy’s designs have earned awards and recognition regionally, nationally, and internationally. Her work has been showcased in World Stage Design 2013 & 2022 digital gallery, the USA-USITT Prague Quadrennial Digital Gallery Exhibit (along with her student’s work), USITT, and USITT Ohio Valley’s Peggy Ezekiel Board’s Choice Exhibit. Her designs have been on stages from New York City to the Midwest as far south as Florida and on PBS.
Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Scenic Design at West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance. She is a native Ohioan with a B.A. degree in Theatre from Wilmington College of Ohio. Tammy earned her Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from West Virginia University. Tammy is an active member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) at both the regional and national level. Tammy has served as the Vice President of Education & Training. Currently, she is the chair of USITT’s Women in Theatre Group. Being involved in the various facets of USITT has helped her become a better educator, designer, and professional.
Tammy is also a member of USA Local 829 as a scenic designer. In addition to designing scenery, Tammy has been a scenic artist for River City Scenic and 3dx Scenic Studios where she was also a project manager. Examples of her painting talents have been cruising the world on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, and on display at various corporate theatre events. Most recently, Tammy and a student team at Kent State University painted a nearly full-scale 3D-printed replica of Pio Fedi’s Liberty of Poetry which was on display at the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. In 2018, the book she co-authored, The Fake Food Cookbook, was published.
Check out her website at www.tammyhonesty.com
L’Amour Ameer, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio would eventually end up calling New York home. He would not do so before becoming the first male dancer to start the legacy of male dancers with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company where he performed under the direction of Jeraldyne Blunden for five and one half years. Before becoming a concert dancer with DCDC, L’Amour was well established as both a professional independent model and designer. His first taste of building costumes for the stage came when he was asked by Jeraldyne to execute pants for the male dancers days before a world premiere that he was to perform in as well. After L’Amour’s stint with dancing he would then be propelled into the life of fashion full time where he is now proudly a Multi Award Winning, Touring and Celebrated International Fashion Designer. This would be through a twenty-two year relationship with Johnson Publication Inc. in Chicago with the Ebony Fashion Fair where he created show stopping garments that placed him in the ranks of other top fashion designers from around the world and has obtained the Government’s Award of California for his achievements in the fashion industry. L’Amour Ameer is now back with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company but this time he is back as the Wardrobe Director and Costume Designer. He is now in his seventh season in this position while still maintaining the operations of his own company NŪ House of Fashion.
John is the long-term Resident Lighting Designer for The Human Race Theatre Company, Muse Machine, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Pops series, and the Dayton Opera Association. He also serves as the long-time Technical Director for the Fraze Pavilion and has provided advanced technical production coordination, lighting designs, automation programming, and performance operation services for many artists and productions that have visited that venue. John also has a diverse dance lighting background, having provided lighting designs and technical production services for many years to The Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Co. John’s national credits include a lighting design package for a National Touring Production of the Elton John/Tim Rice collaboration Aida. Some of his most recent local credits include all the designs for The Human Race’s season at the Loft Theatre; Muse Machine’s productions at the Victoria Theatre and the Dayton Opera Association’s season at the Schuster Center. At 70, John just had his tonsils removed. Ouch!
Antonio is a sound designer as well as the lead audio and video technician at Stages in Houston, Texas. Originally from Lorain, Ohio, he moved to Houston, Texas in 2014 as an intern and has worked his way through the company to the Lead Audio and Video technician at Stages. Antonio also works as an electrician and carpenter on the side when he is not at Stages. Sound designs include You Are Cordially Invited: To Sit in, Panto Hansel & Gretel, Murder For Two at Stages, Galapagos at Open Dance Company, Two Mile Hollow at Rouge Productions, Carrie the Musical at Iconotheatrix as well as All Shook Up at Memorial High School. Assistant sound design for Miracle on 34th Street A Live Musical Radio Play, Life Could Be a Dream, River Bride at Stages Repertory Theatre, and Into the Woods at Kinkaid High School.
Mark is thrilled to be back in his native Ohio and able to see his great nephews, Elliott, Gabriel, Rowan, and Luca (and the rest of his family) in person rather than on the Facebook. Mark got his BFA from Wright State University with his first two years at The Ohio State University. He is a proud 37-year member of Actors’ Equity Association. His career includes Radio City Music Hall, subbing on Broadway, national and international tours, regional theatre and corporate events. It is an honor to be working with The Human Race Theatre Company, very grateful.
Rachel (she/her) is thankful for the opportunity to return to The Human Race after working on 2022’s production of Who’s Holiday! National Tours: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Rock of Ages 10th Anniversary Tour, The Illusionists, 42nd Street, Once. Off-Broadway: Primary Stages. Regional: Alley Theatre (Houston, TX), Columbus Children’s Theatre, Contemporary American Theatre Company (Columbus, OH). Education: Otterbein University.
Proud member of AEA.
Technical Director
Head Carpenter/Charge Artist
Production Stage Manager
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Prop Master
Costume Shop Manager
ASSISTANT COSTUME SHOP MANAGER
Wardrobe
Sound Engineer
Production Electrician
Health Resources Officer
Production Photographer
Production Artwork
Robert O’Hara has received the NAACP Best Director Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, two Obie Awards and the Oppenheimer Award. He directed the World Premieres of Nikkole Salter and Dania Gurira’s In the Continuum, Tarell McCraney’s The Brother/Sister Plays (Part 2) and Colman Domingo’s Wild with Happy, as well as his own plays, BootyCandy and Insurrection: Holding History. His new plays, Zombie: The American and Barbecue, recently world premiered at Woolly Mammoth Theater and New York Shakespeare Festival, respectively.
He has directed around the country including Arena Stage, The Alley Theater, Primary Stages, Yale Rep, Woolly Mammoth, American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Culture Project, The Flea, Philadelphia Theater Company, Wilma, Geva, City Theater, Dallas Theater Center, OSF and The Goodman Theater. He has been an Artist in Residence at the American Conservatory Theater, New York Shakespeare Festival, Theater/Emory and the Mellon Playwright in Residence at Woolly Mammoth, as well as a Visiting Professor at DePaul University School of the Arts and Adjunct at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts.
As a playwright, his work is produced all over the country and Mr. O’Hara has been commissioned by Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, the Public Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, McCarter Theater, Mark Taper Forum and Woolly Mammoth Theater. He is currently under commission from Lincoln Center and OSF. He has written screenplays for Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Jon Avnet, HBO, ABC, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, New Line/Fine Line Cinema and Artisan Entertainment.
Mr. O’Hara has been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship, a TCG Extended Collaboration Grant, NEA/TCG Fellowship, and was a Van Lier Fellow at New Dramatists. He received the LAMBDA Literary Award for best LGBT Drama, the Mark Taper Forum’s first Sherwood Award and the TANNE Award for Exceptional Body of Work.
He recently directed a new musical, UniSon, inspired by the poetry of August Wilson, at OSF; a new musical, Bella: An American Tall Tale, by Kirsten Childs, at Playwrights Horizons; and the Chicago premiere of Bootycandy.
He received his Directing MFA from Columbia University.
Biography and Photo courtesy of concordtheatricals.com
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