Broadway Veteran to Portray Ethel Waters at The Loft Portraying one of the great musical and stage stars of the 20th century as just one character in a show would be tough enough – doing so in a one-woman (plus pianist) show is a daunting challenge. But Danielle Lee Greaves has the credentials that indicate she’s up to the challenge of Larry Parr’s Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow, coming to The Loft June 11-28. Greaves' background includes Rent and the original casts of Hairspray and the Hal Prince ShowBoat revival. She has done national and international tours of Rent, The Lion King, ShowBoat and Hair, and has many other credits. |
Wide experience is important in playing Ethel Waters, because Parr has the famed singer and actress looking back over her whole life - from birth to a rape victim in her early teens, to growing up in a tough Philadelphia ghetto, to being married and divorced by age 14, to surviving the black vaudeville circuit, then becoming a star of song, stage and film, and eventually finding religion and joining the Billy Graham Crusades. Through the years Waters changed both inside – going from extreme bitterness toward almost everyone to love of mankind, and outside - going from famously thin in her early singing days to, well, uh, a trifle larger later on. On the way, Waters made recordings that gained Hall of Fame status in fields from blues to gospel, and His Eye Is On The Sparrow presents her most famous numbers, from the title song to Am I Blue and Stormy Weather. One person who knew Waters during a major transition period was Joan Shepard, Sister Clarissa in The Human Race production of Over the Tavern, who, as a schoolgirl, was in the Broadway production of Member of the Wedding in which Waters starred. Waters then-famed inflexibility broke during that run, when she at first refused to sing His Eye Is On The Sparrow in the show because she had been hired as a straight dramatic actress and she felt it was “a cheap theatrical stunt.” But she then gave in, and the scene in which she sings became a famous moment in stage and movie history.
Opens JUNE 12 at The Loft |
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WHAT'S NEW AT THE RACE? ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS from the corner window FAMILY PORTRAITS - a photo page SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS and Updates DESIGNERS - Our Unsung Heroes EXECUTIVE RAMBLINGS |
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WHAT'S NEW AT THE RACE |
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IL STUPENDO, DON QUIXOTE,
It seems appropriate that at a time the world is undergoing great change, the 2009-2010 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race is full of change, from the famed metamorphosis of Scrooge to the machinations of Il Stupendo. There’s a change in how we offer subscriptions as well – a change to much greater flexibility. Subscribers may choose anywhere from three to six shows, though, of course, the more you opt for, the more you save per show. So if you haven’t already subscribed for next season, you’ll want to change that status after you see what’s coming. |
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Think opera is highbrow? Not the Cleveland Opera Company’s 1934 production of Otello, meant to feature the renowned Il Stupendo. Things go dreadfully wrong from the start, and get worse as they go along. Mistaken identity, double entendres and innuendos abound, and you can count on the direction of Human Race Resident Artist Joe Deer (Seussical, Big River and more) to keep you laughing from beginning to end. It’s a rollicking way to start the year. How can it miss – Lend Me A Tenor won two Tony Awards - and it’s set in Cleveland.
Human Race Executive Director Kevin Moore is heading out of the office and back onto the stage to portray the imprisoned Miguel Cervantes, who in turn portrays his creation, Don Quixote, in this wondrous musical interpretation of one of the greatest pieces of world literature. Be ready to be in the midst of the action, as the entire Loft becomes the dungeon in which Cervantes and the other players are held. Resident Artist Scott Stoney directs the quest to fulfill The Impossible Dream. Garnering awards was a very possible dream for Man of La Mancha – it won five Tony’s.
The Human Race’s own adaptation of the classic Dickens tale was such a success last Christmas, we’re bringing it back for a reprise, complete with having the remarkable Mark Douglas-Jones back as Scrooge. It’s a rendition true to the original, but with a few fillips we’ve added to keep things new, including a wealth of actual mid-19th century Christmas caroling. Kevin Moore and Scott Stoney will again combine on the directing – and we will again begin all evening performances at 7pm to make the timing more family friendly. We’ve even added two performances after Christmas Day, so you could give tickets as presents (hint, hint). |
International wars, conflicting philosophies, and just how individuals could and should see their own roles in world affairs and how world affairs impact their lives are all taken on in this drama by prolific British playwright David Hare (Amy’s View, Skylight). An American war correspondent-turned professor and her boyfriends’ British doctor father are at the core of the conflicts of reality and illusion, youth and age, activism and world-weariness. The Washington Post called A Vertical Hour “a lively dissection of how two cultures look at the world’s troubles.”
Anyone who has played Little League baseball, or coached it, or watched it, or known anyone who played it or coached it or watched it, will immediately recognize the two characters of Rounding Third. Don’s the head coach for whom winning is everything and whose son is the star, Michael’s the assistant Don’s stuck with, who thinks everybody should get trophies and whose son is a klutz. Needless to say, things change and they change, with loads of laughs along the way. Be ready for living in a van, trying to stuff gear into an equipment bag, some mighty strange game tactics, and even Brigadoon.
The lives of four young New Yorkers interweave in this Regional Premiere of a new musical by Fred Ebb and Award-winning songwriter Adam Gwon. Sometimes the four impact one another deliberately, sometimes they don’t even meet, but while it’s not quite the Butterfly Effect, they change each other’s lives accidentally and from afar. Love is sought, won, lost, avoided, ignored and reunited, all in song, much of the tone set by scraps of pithy little sayings one character thinks are brilliant, though they sure sound like they came from fortune cookies. What’s OnStage of London called Ordinary Days “brilliantly written,” which makes it most extraordinary. |
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* * * * * * * * As we said, a terrific season – so make sure you get your subscription in for at least three shows. Just visit www.ticketcenterstage.com or call (937) 228-3630 or toll-free (888) 228-3630. Single ticket sales will be available later this summer. |
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MUSICAL THEATRE WEEKEND July 17-19, 2009 |
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The Human Race is planning its second annual “Musical Theatre Weekend” in Dayton on July 17 - 19, 2009. This Festival will showcase three new musicals – one written and performed by area teens – The “Lovewell” Experience, while professionals from New York and the Dayton region will perform the other two musical workshops. Kevin Moore, Human Race Executive Director, selected these workshops from a list of numerous submissions. “Each of these writing teams has a history with The Human Race,” said Moore, “and we are thrilled to be able to continue our relationship of developing their new shows.” THE TRIMBLE WARS by Sean Michael Flowers Sean and Patrick spent a 10-day residency with The Human Race in October, 2008 working on Act 1 of their new musical. Previously, The Human Race premiered their first musical together, Prometheus Dreams – and Sean is a Human Race Resident Artist. We are also pleased that our workshop of The Trimble Wars will receive one of the first grants awarded by the new National Fund for New Musicals – a competitive process under the auspices of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. rightnextto me by Gregg Coffin: rightnextto me concerns itself with the distance between people and the space love leaves behind when it goes. It’s a series of monologues, vignettes and scenes that connect themselves around the idea of disconnection. In turns tragic, comic and romantic these eight characters explore the feelings that linger, the loss of connection and the rebirth of hope. |
At the time of writing, the cast will include Jim Poulos (Convenience at Human Race, Rent on Broadway), Stacia Fernandez (The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and the Beast – Broadway and Tours), Melissa Dye (Broadway’s Into the Woods and Grease revivals, and Phantom of the Opera), and Dayton’s Jamie Cordes (Wait Until Dark, The Merry Widow). The Trimble Wars and rightnextto me will both be presented as staged readings in the Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center, 116 N. Jefferson Street. The third musical project during our “Musical Theatre Weekend” will be our second annual Human Race/Lovewell Experience. By using the multi-faceted techniques of the renowned Lovewell Institute, in just three weeks area teens will conceive, write and perform an original musical – all their own words, all their own songs. The performances will take place in The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main Street. The team of leaders will consist of two visiting Lovewell Artists, Carrie Gilchrist and Michael Finke; and two of our own Artists who have been trained in the Lovewell technique, Marilyn Klaben and Scott Stoney. The entire musical weekend is sponsored by the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund, with additional support from The Producers’ Circle and the National Fund for New Musicals. Individual Tickets for all three events go on sale
June 15 at The Human Race, 937-461-3823. All
tickets are $15. Performance times are as follows:
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ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS from the corner window |
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This Sunday I woke to the news that Pres. and Mrs. Obama took in a Broadway show the night before. I was grateful that he tipped his hat to our industry and wondered what Broadway Blockbuster they chose. It warmed my heart to hear Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson was where they spent their evening. We have produced two of Mr. Wilson’s works, Fences and Jitney and intended to bring you Gem of the Ocean this month, before substituting Ethel Waters. August Wilson’s lifework of plays, each connected to each other and set over the last hundred years, is an extraordinary body of work, celebrating the ever changing, yet stalwart character of African Americans. For years, Tony Dallas has been campaigning for us to do Joe Turner. The only thing that’s stopped us is the tremendously large and expensive cast. In fact, this year a theatre in Cincinnati produced an August Wilson play but every actor in every role was brought in from out of town, a cost that our present economy makes very risky. But don’t worry, we’ll get back to Gem of the Ocean -- I truly believe this piece of Wilson’s anthology spiritually sets the journey of the century for his characters.
Joe Turner closes in NYC mid-June, as does the most exciting piece of theatre I saw in NYC this season. Ruined at the Manhattan Theatre Club has won the Pulitzer, the Outer Critics Circle, The Drama Desk Award and The Obie (Off Broadway Award) for best play as well as 3 Obies for the performers. (It’s not eligible for the Tony Awards.) It started in Chicago and transferred to NYC where it has been extended over and over. It is due to close the end of June so if you plan to be anywhere near the city, don’t miss it!!! Ruined is brilliantly written, directed and performed. It will be too expensive for us to produce here in Dayton, so see it now, wherever you can. |
The winners of our “Big Apple Bite” contest for renewing subscribers just returned from New York seeing the new musicals Shrek and 9 to 5. Eugene and Karen Henninger will be watching the Tony awards to see if any of the performances they saw will be honored. Right now, I’m hearing great things about a young playwright named Tarell Alvin McCraney who I want to watch closely. His trilogy The Brother/Sister Plays at the renowned McCarter Theatre in New Jersey is claiming rave reviews.
We strive to bring you a variety of experiences in the theatre. You’ve seen classics like Arthur Miller and Shakespeare and contemporary writers like Richard Greenberg and Athol Fugard. You’ve seen musicals, new and old, and thoughtful plays and silly pieces and things that bring up memories from your earlier days. We’ve brought you familiar faces you’ve grown up with (like Schele Williams, Col White alum, bringing her directing talent home for Ethel Waters) and brand new faces from across the country. You’ve seen very sophisticated performances like the brilliant performance you’re going to see by Danielle Lee Greaves during Ethel Waters and rough honed pieces like Brother Wolf. The one thing you can believe in at The Loft is change. (Hmmm, that might make a good campaign slogan...) So we’re looking for the next piece to bring you. If you see a show somewhere that you think the rest of our audience would enjoy, let me know. Thanks for coming on the ride with us. We’ll keep trying to surprise you.
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So if you enjoy reading
about all the doings
at The Human
Race, we will need
your current email
address.
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT |
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The Morris Furniture Co., Inc. has a rich history of serving Southwestern Ohio. In 1947 Morris Lieberman and his son, Bert, opened Morris Furniture Mart in a small storefront at 444 East Fifth St. near downtown Dayton. Their philosophy was to offer quality furniture and appliances at the most affordable price, and to provide service that would insure satisfied customers came back. The concept worked, the word spread, and the Morris’ business grew.
Today Morris Furniture Co., Inc. is one of the largest privately owned furniture retailers in Ohio with locations throughout southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Headquartered in Fairborn, Ohio, it is now owned by Larry Klaben who purchased the company in 1998. In the little more than 20 years since Larry joined Morris, he has taken it from a single mom & pop “mart” to an impressive multi-store operation that employs over 450 associates. But he is quick to point out that he couldn’t have done it without superior employees and partners by his side. And his belief that “growth and change aren’t so tough when you have the right people in your corner” has certainly served the company well. Morris Home Furnishings now has locations at 2121 Harshman Road in Dayton and 5695 Wilmington Pike in Centerville in addition to Ashley Furniture Home Stores in Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati, Columbus and Northern Kentucky. |
Morris also operates the areas' only Thomasville showroom at 5675 Wilmington Pike in Centerville and the Midwest Clearance Outlet at 2377 Commerce Center Blvd. in Fairborn, Ohio. And the icing on the cake…Morris was recently recognized as the National Home Furnishing Association’s 2008 Retailer of the Year in the over $10 million category. Morris feature the areas’ largest selection of namebrand furnishings, mattresses and home theater products from Berkline, Broyhill, Flexsteel, Lane, La-ZBoy, LG, Mitsubishi, Sealy, Sony, Stearns & Foster and more. And they’re all under one roof in newly remodeled showrooms that display furniture collections by category instead of manufacturer galleries that tend to duplicate styles. So customers can now easily browse through “Ten exciting showrooms in one GREAT store” for the best possible shopping experience. Additionally, The New Home Theater Store at Morris provides in-home consultation, installation, and home theater design services by experts who help take the mystery out of buying an HDTV. But Morris Furniture Co., Inc. is much more than just a regional retailer. Morris is also very active in many community organizations and important charitable causes. They’ve supported The Human Race Theatre Company in many ways for many years from generous financial gifts, to the loan of furniture and decorating pieces for our sets and donated furniture for The Loft Lobby, The Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center for The Human Race and the apartments we use to house visiting artists and actors. They also proudly support University of Dayton and Wright State University basketball, Children’s Medical Center, United Way, Muscular Dystrophy, Culture Works and many other area organizations. So we are pleased to spotlight Morris Furniture Co., Inc as a true partner in this community we all call home.
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FAMILY PORTRAITS - a photo page |
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Over The Tavern |
Ears On A Beatle |
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A Christmas Carol |
Brother Wolf |
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Doubt |
Wait Until Dark |
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SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS 2009 |
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Welcome to summer theatre activities at The Human Race Theatre! |
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Registration forms can be downloaded from our www.humanracetheatre.org/education website and mailed to the theatre with your choice of payment plan. Partial scholarships are available thanks to the generous support of National City. Scholarship applications are available on our website. Contact Education Director Marilyn Klaben at (937) 461-3823, extension 3132 for more information. |
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SUMMER STOCK KIDS 2009
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THE "LOVEWELL" EXPERIENCE 2009
Dates: Fee: $550 (includes a $150 enrollment fee) All classes will be held at the Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center, For more information or questions visit |
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ACTING, SINGING, and AUDITION PREPARATION Private Coaching Appointments are available for students 16 – Adult. Schedule your one-on-one coaching session with The Human Race Resident Artist who can best meet your needs by calling Marilyn at (937) 461-3823, extension 3132.
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DESIGNERS - Our Unsung Heroes |
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DAVID A. CENTERS David A. Centers just finished putting you in suspense. Come fall, he’s going to put you in a dungeon. The suspense was in Wait Until Dark, The Human Race production in the Victoria Theatre’s Broadway Series this season. The dungeon will be in medieval Spain – or at least a chunk of medieval Spain transported to The Loft. The dungeon is, of course, the one where Miguel de Cervantes is imprisoned in Man of La Mancha, which will be David’s 24th production for The Human Race. His history as a set designer for HRTC goes back to Elephant Man in 1993. David’s sets have been widely seen throughout southwest Ohio for decades, and his design work has traveled the world, as far as the Sakai Opera in Japan. He got set on sets as a career early, as a 15-year old student at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. He began at SCPA as an art and vocal music major, but then, “They brought in a professional designer, Jay Depenbrock…who became my mentor,” says David. The two were friends until Depenbrock’s death in 1996. David went on to CCM and NYU, and interned with the Cincinnati Opera, where he has been designing for 22 seasons. He later met HRTC’s Marsha Hanna and began doing work for The Human Race.
On process, he can go either way, “Sometimes I initially talk to a director to see about approach, sometimes I read the script through first.” Then comes reading for technical information, like where a door would come in handy, writing down requirements, and getting started on the creative process while working in the director’s desires and budget considerations. “Certain lines may give ideas (on design), whether pictorial, historical or architectural,” David says. “Then you collaborate with the other designers.” David also goes either way on beginning the actual design – sometimes he starts with sketches, sometimes building a model. Either way, he’s incorporating a grand plan about atmosphere and movement and spatial needs, then moving to specifics. Budget is always a consideration, and that’s especially true these days. “Some tech directors are more frugal, some very creative. You have a fantastic technical director. When I design for you. I’m able to use creative effects Scott (Kimmins) brings to the table. I’m able to do more.” David says that particularly applies to Scott’s ability to do welding, so he can design with steel as well as wood. David likes to meet the director in the theatre space that will be used, so he can incorporate that environment in his ideas, He says it doesn’t much matter whether he’s seen a particular play before – each production’s approach is different. As for favorites he’s designed at The Loft, David loved Sisters (1998), but would pick the 2003 production of Jitney with Sheila Ramsey as number one. Of all the sets he’s done elsewhere, he’s especially proud of a Street Scene design at Kansas State University. At the other end of the spectrum, David has the most unfond memory of a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters at NYU. The director changed the location to Civil War Atlanta, complete with Southern accents. Kept the Russian names, though. For some odd reason, that didn’t work |
JOHN RENSEL It’s not true that every theatre or musical production you could possibly have ever seen in the Dayton area had lighting designed by John Rensel. It’s just very, very close. John, a Human Race Resident Artist and President of The Light Fantastic, has done the lighting for The Human Race since the company’s beginnings. He’s also resident designer for Kettering Children’s Theatre and the DPO’s Pops series, and has designed productions for theatre and dance companies all over the region.
You don’t even have to go indoors to see John’s designs at work. He does productions at the Fraze, and recently put the lights on the giant statue of King Lear in Courthouse Square. John began doing lighting while a UD student in 1971. That’s not quite back to stages lit by candles, but it’s eons ago in theatre technology. “An advantage of the dark ages,” he says, “was that you had to learn how to make everything work. A lot more is done for you through software now.” Does he miss the challenge of the old days? “Absolutely not,” he says, while acknowledging working then provided a basis for understanding the craft of lighting. “There’s a much more consistent end product now. You’ve taken away the variable of human error,” John explains. “It’s not foolproof, but it’s a lot better. (Lights) come up right on cue, so you get the picture the designer wanted to put out there every night.” In addition to consistency, John says modern lighting systems allow for a lot more flexibility and ability to create special effects. “You use to be limited by the ability of the operator and sometimes had to design around those abilities. Now it’s down to the designer’s skill.” In addition to computerized activation systems, John says the lights themselves have advanced a lot, to the point you can re-create a flickering fire or lightening flashes and so on. “Special effects constantly come up now,” he says, “but you still are trying to make pictures that set the mood. That’s one of the main objectives – be it daylight or indoor or dark and shadowy. And you want to pull the attention where the director wants it – which can sometimes be to distract from other activity on stage.”
John says the most complicated designs he’s created were probably for a regional tour of Aida. He’s especially proud of work on the Dayton Opera’s production of Macbeth. His favorites for The Human Race have included Bat Boy and Shenandoah. He prefers the challenge of doing musicals – “They have a lot more variables. They spend a lot of time out of reality, and you have to go with the flow of the music.” You can count on seeing a lot more John Rensel credits at The Loft and around the area. He says he’s probably got another eight or ten years of designing ahead.
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Design Photos: Scott J. Kimmins |
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EXECUTIVE RAMBLINGS from the desk of Kevin |
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REMEMBRANCE |
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In fond memory of Charles Abramovitz, community leader, volunteer and organizer, philanthropist, arts patron, companion, husband, father and grandfather extraordinaire. A past Board Member and advocate for The Human Race Theatre Company, he will be greatly missed by all of us here, as well as by his many friends, colleagues and loving family. 
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HUMAN RACE CALENDAR |
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Mark these Human Race dates in your calendar!! Wed. June 10 Thu. June 11
Fri. June 12
Sun. June 21
Sat. June 27 Sat. June 27 Fri. July 17 Fri. July 17 Sat. July 18 Sat. July 18 Sat. July 18 Sun. July 19 Sun. July 19 |
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Exciting Summer Theatre Programs for kids and teens are filling up rapidly! All classes are
held in our inspiring space, The Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center at 116 N. Jefferson Street in
downtown Dayton.
Designed for children who wish to develop their acting skills in a creative environment that builds
personal confidence and promotes teamwork as they prepare for a PERFORMANCE to be shared with
family and friends. Past summer performances have included Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe and Stuart Little. Kids will delight as they create animal characters for this year's production of
The Jungle Book.
Mondays - Fridays June 15 - 26, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Human Race Theatre is proud to partner with The Lovewell Institute of
Florida in providing students ages 13-19 with the best interdisciplinary summer
program in town!
Human Race is hosting a
free Intro to Improvisation class
at the Downtown YMCA for YMCA
members 16 and older. This two-hour
master class, led by Jake
Lockwood, will be on Saturday,
June 20th from 10 am – noon. Sign
up at the front desk.
now, you may have heard that I will be venturing
onto the stage again this Fall in the role of Don
Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA. I am thrilled to
be playing this role – probably
my all-time favorite. I
am grateful to the directors
(Scott, Scot and Marsha) for
giving me this opportunity, as
well as the Board and staff for
their encouragement and support.
Hope to see