The words will be Shakespearean, but the setting will be F. Scott Fitzgeraldean when The Human Race, Dayton's own professional theatre company, brings The Bard's great comedy to The Loft Theatre beginning January 27. The tale of mistaken identity, misguided romance and miscreants plotting nefarious schemes will be set in 1920s America instead of ancient Illyria.
"Playing it in the ‘20s will help tell the story to a modern audience," says director
Aaron Vega, at barely 28 the youngest director ever for The Human Race. Vega, a Wright State grad who has acted in numerous HRTC productions, plans to use a wide range of ‘20s music during Twelfth Night, from Gershwin to Fats Waller - fitting for the work that includes the line "if music be the food of love, play on."
The cast of Twelfth Night is a result of local and national auditioning, including many members with local ties. It includes two Human Race Resident Artists,
Tim Lile as Sir Toby Belch and Scott Stoney as Malvolio. Vega's wife,
Claire Kennedy (Lend Me a Tenor, A Christmas Carol), plays Viola, whose disguise as a man sets off the play's events.
WSU grad Christian Duhamel is composing music for the production, as well as playing Feste, the clown. Another WSU alum, Sara Mackie (Green Gables) plays Olivia.
Yellow Springs native Kevin Malarkey, a UC College-Conservatory of Music senior, is Valentine. Matthew Moore of Cedarville plays the Captain and Antonio. David Dortch, a veteran of Blue Jacket, plays Orsino.
Jennifer Johansen of Indianapolis (A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet) is Maria. Josh Stamoolis, longtime Cincinnati Shakespeare resident performer, is Sir Andrew Aguecheek. And
Justin Flagg, from the Royal Scottish Academy via New York, is Sebastian.
Behind the scenes, Dick Block designed the set, Lowell A. Mathwich the costumes, Rich Dionne the sound, Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting. Heather Jackson is the production stage manager, Scott Kimmins the Technical Director, with
Heather Powell on props,
Andrew ian Adams on wardrobe and Nathan Dean on sound.
Twelfth Night is the fourth production of the 2010-2011 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race. It will be the first Human Race production in more than 20 years without Artistic Director Marsha Hanna, who died January 3 of complications from esophageal cancer.
For those unfamiliar with Twelfth Night, or who want to look at it more depth, a study guide is available on the Human Race website.
Preview night is January 27, official opening night January 28, with performances through February 13. Tickets are available through
www.humanracetheatre.org, by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, at the Schuster Center box office, or at the box office at
The Loft two hours before curtain.
Production sponsors are the DP&L Foundation, Emerson Climate Technologies, The Muse Machine, The Roberts Foundation, Mark Zunich and Lisa Kloppenberg, Auntie Anne's and Hauer Music Co.
Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 219-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Eichelberger Loft Season, The Human Race produces for the Victoria Theatre's Broadway Series, the
Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director
Kevin Moore, also maintains education and outreach programs for children, teens and adults, as well as artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock, and The Human Race Conservatory. Human Race organizational support is provided by Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, Shubert Foundation and the Ohio
Arts Council. The Ohio
Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Tim Lile
Claire Kennedy
David Dortch
