The Human Race Theatre, Dayton's own professional theatre company, will be presenting three new musicals over the weekend of July 16-18 - one about a fictional country singer, one about a real pop legend, and one that will be whatever springs from the minds of some of the most creative teens in the region.
Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (for Next to Normal) Brian Yorkey teamed up with Nefertiti composer David Spangler and Nashville songwriter Jerry Taylor to create Play it By Heart, the story of a female country music star battling her family and a changing industry. Taylor, who penned such hits as Tammy Wynette's "Another Chance" and Johnny Cash's "The Baron," calls it "the quintessential story of family in country music."Play It By Heart, which was created in part during a residency with The Human Race last fall, will be under the direction of Human Race Executive Director Kevin Moore and Musical Direction of Jay Brunner. The cast includes local standouts Leslie Jo Bissett-Hood, Scott Stoney, Jamie Cordes. Carlyn Connelly, J.J. Tiemeyer, Jerome Doerger, Mike Kennedy, Christine Brunner and James Roselli, plus Seattle actress Sharva Maynard, who originated the role of the star's mother in a Seattle workshop.
The real musical legend was one of the most famous entertainers ever to come out of the Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky region, Rosemary Clooney. Tenderly is written by the Cincinnati team of Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, who created Green Gables, a hit for The Human Race at The Victoria Theatre in 2005. It includes such Clooney hits as "Come On-a My House," "Mambo Italiano" and "Hey There."The Tenderly cast includes a. Beth Harris of Cincinnati and Human Race Resident Artist Scott Stoney, and will be directed by Marya Spring, with Janet Yates Vogt as Musical Director and Scot Woolley at the keyboard providing musical arrangements.Play It By Heart and Tenderly will both be presented as staged readings. The third show of the weekend will be a fully-produced performance created from scratch by area teens under the aegis of the internationally acclaimed Lovewell Project. Just what that show will be will be up to the participants - in the past, Human Race Lovewell students have created shows about not-so-super-heroes and bestselling novels.
Musical Theatre Workshop: Festival 2010 will be celebrated at both the 219-seat Loft Theatre at 126 N. Main St. and the approximately 60-seat Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center at 116 N. Jefferson. In addition to the performances, there will also be three parties open to those attending the shows (see schedule below).The festival is sponsored by the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund and the Producers' Circle. Tickets are $15 per performance, available at the door.Musical Theatre WorksHOP: FESTIVAL 2010 FULL SCHEDULEFriday, July 168pm Play It By Heart The Loft Theatre Followed by an After-Show Reception Dayton Racquet ClubSaturday, July 171:15pm Meet the Play It By Heart writers The Loft Lobby 2pm Play It By Heart The Loft Theatre 7pm Lovewell Show The Loft Theatre After-Show Reception The Loft Lobby 8pm Tenderly Creativity CenterSunday, July 182pm Lovewell Show The Loft Theatre 2pm Tenderly Creativity Center 6:15pm Meet the Tenderly writers Creativity Center 7pm Tenderly Creativity Center Followed by a wrap-up party Location TBA
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 the Miriam Rosenthal 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.
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