ADAM GWON

Adam Gwon was named one of “50 to Watch” by The Dramatist magazine, and won the 2008 Fred Ebb Award for excellence in musical theater songwriting. His musical Ordinary Days made its NYC premiere this season with a sold-out run at Roundabout Theatre Company. Adam’s other projects include the upcoming The Boy Detective Fails (book: Joe Meno) and Bernice Bobs Her Hair (book/lyrics: Julia Jordan). His work has been seen at Primary Stages, South Coast Repertory, Signature Theatre (Arlington), the Kennedy Center, Ars Nova, NAMT, NYMF, New Dramatists, SPF/Public Theater, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Finborough Theatre (London), the ASCAP/Disney workshop, and many others. His other honors include the ASCAP Harold Adamson award, the MAC John Wallowitch award and a MAC Award nomination for best song, as well as commissions from South Coast Rep, Signature Theatre (Arlingon), Broadway Across America, and the EST/Sloan Project. Adam has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and the Dramatists Guild, an artist-in-residence at Weston Playhouse, and is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Visit http://www.adamgwon.com.

ELENA BOND

Elena Bond was born In Russia in the beautiful old city of Samara on March 20th, 1965 to a military doctor and a classical pianist. Elena started drawing at a very early age, using everything from a pencil to her mother’s make-up. She came from a family of artists where her grandfather and great-father were both artists. Elena’s family moved frequently around the Soviet Union because of her father’s military work. She has lived in Kazakhstan, Byelorussia, Ukraine, Latvia, Litva, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. The largest part of her childhood was spent in Germany. Because of the frequent lifestyle changes, Elena was able to preserve memories of many different cultures and experiences. At the age of 11, she attended her first art school in St. Petersburg, Russia.

It is from this early experience that she came to the conclusion that she could be nothing other than an artist. The students of this particular school spent most of their time at museums such as the Russian Museum and Ermitazh, where they learned not only basic art, but theory as well. Elena’s family moved to Middle Asia, which was then part of the Soviet Union, to the beautiful, sunny, and friendly state of Uzbekistan.

At 15, she attended the State College of Art in Uzbekistan majoring in Scenic Design which she completed with honors. She then went on to study at the Academy of Art, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. During this time Elena took part in many international, state, and local exhibitions. She became a member of the Artist’s Union of Uzbekistan. She also worked in theatres creating set designs for the State Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Returning to Uzbekistan, she continued her work, in the State Museum of Art as a restorer, teaching at the local University, and participating in exhibitions.

With the dismantling of the Soviet Union life changed – the divisive issues of nationality and religion resulted in the loss of wealth and stability for so many Soviet citizens. Fortunately, in 1999, Elena’s family won a Green Card Lottery and immediately moved to the United States, where Elena was able to resume her painting, both recreationally and professionally. In her painting she has tried many styles and techniques: from simple still life and portraits to difficult, philosophical, multi-figured art. Whatever she paints, her main goal is to be honest and love what she creates. She currently resides in Miami with her husband and two daughters where she is a scenic designer for the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida.

KEVIN MOORE (Director) The founding Executive Director and a Resident Artist of The Human Race, Kevin has directed such productions as The Mystery Of Irma Vep, Beehive, A Day In Hollywood * A Night In The Ukraine, The Rocky Horror Show, Angels In America: Perestroika, Children Of Eden, Beautiful Thing, Bat Boy, Convenience, Shenandoah, the world premiere of Wild Blue and the Midwest premiere of Harold & Maude. Kevin also created the “Musical Theatre Workshop,” which has developed, to date, 27 musicals and hosted two national summits and two summer festivals. His association with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, serving on their Board and co-chairing their Festival of New Works in New York, has helped to make The Human Race a “center for the development of new musicals.” He produced the premieres of Joseph Thalken’s Was, Stephen Schwartz’ Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook, and next season, Gregg Coffin’s right next to me. He produced the record-breaking West Side Story featuring the Dayton Ballet, and produced and directed the regional professional premieres of Green Gables and Tuesdays With Morrie at the Victoria Theatre. Kevin helped establish the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Scholarship, providing financial assistance to young performers. In April, Kevin – together with Marsha Hanna – was presented with the prestigious Ohio Governor’s Award for the Arts. Kevin is pleased to bring this exciting new musical by Adam Gwon to the region.

SEAN MICHAEL FLOWERS (Music Director/Pianist) My first gig with The Human Race was 17 years ago. Since that time, I have had the fortune to be a part of 20 productions, MTW readings (including two of my own shows - The Trimble Wars and Prometheus Dreams), concerts, or plays, here at The Race. I am proud to return for this, my 21st show, and to celebrate my 10th year as a Resident Artist with the company and with you! Human Race production favorites include Bat Boy, West Side Story, Harold & Maude, and A Grand Night for Singing.

SCOTT J. KIMMINS (Scenic Designer) This is Scott’s 13th season as the Technical Director for The Human Race Theatre Company where he has built over 85 productions for The Loft Stage as well as the Victoria Theatre. His last design at The Loft was Brother Wolf. Other Loft designs include The Wonder Bread Years, How I Learned to Drive, Children of Eden, Forever Plaid, and Copenhagen, which received a Daytony for Excellence in Set Design. He also designed The Human Race production of Tuesdays With Morrie on the Victoria Stage. While attending Wright State University in the Design/Production Program Scott also designed The Caine-Mutiny Court Martial, Bent and A Man Haunted. Other design credits include Infernal Machine for Sinclair College, Yellowman for The Dream Keeper Theatre Company and Bunk Bed Brothers for Sweetwood Productions also on the Victoria Theatre Stage in 2005.

LAINE JUNE MARR (Costume Designer) Laine is very excited to be celebrating her second season with The Human Race as both Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager. She has recently worked as the Assistant Costumer for the Dayton Ballet, wardrobe attendant for Monty Python’s Spamalot in Las Vegas, and wardrobe supervisor for the National tours of The Producers and RENT. Laine graduated from Wright State University with a BFA in Design/Technology and Costume Technology.

JOHN RENSEL (Resident Lighting Designer) Mr. Rensel is the long term resident lighting designer for The Human Race Theatre Company, the Muse Machine and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Pops series and has provided lighting design services for numerous Dayton Opera Association productions. He also serves as the long time Technical Director for the Fraze Pavilion and has provided technical advance 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 most recent national credits included a lighting design package for a National Touring Production of the Elton John/Tim Rice collaboration, Aida. Most recent local credits include all the designs for the 2009-2010 Human Race Theatre Company’s season at The Loft Theatre, the Muse Machine production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Victoria Theatre and the Dayton Opera Association’s 2009-2010 season at the Schuster Center. John has four cats who have been spayed or neutered.

NATHAN D. DEAN (Sound Designer) Nathan attended Sinclair Community College’s Department of Theatre. He has worked for several theatres including Brookville Community, Blair Hall, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and of course, The Human Race Theatre Company. Design credits include Steel Magnolias at Brookville Community and Footfalls, a series of Beckett plays at Sinclair, for which he received a DayTony and Lend Me A Tenor, Man of La Mancha and The Vertical Hour for The Human Race where he also serves as House Sound Engineer.

HEATHER JACKSON (Production Stage Manager) Heather’s professional credits include The 13th Street Ensemble and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham International Festival, Southern Danceworks, The Dance COLEctive, CATCO, Actor’s Theatre, DCDC, the International Ballet Competition and 8 years as the Company and Stage Manager of the Alabama Ballet. Heather has studied Dance with Twyla Tharp and OSU, The School of American Ballet and the Dance Theater of Harlem. She has received an Award of Merit for Stage Management from the American College Theater Festival and a Pacesetter Award from Wright State University, where she studied for her BFA in Design/ Technology and Stage Management. Heather is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Stage Manager’s Association and Dance/USA.