FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Steven Box, Marketing Director
937-461-3823 x3112
steven@humanracetheatre.org

YOUTH SUMMER STOCK PRESENTS STILL LIFE WITH IRIS
AT THE LOFT THEATRE, JULY 16, 2005 

(Dayton, OH) – July 6 – The Human Race Theatre Company proudly presents the 2005 Youth Summer Stock production of Steven Dietz’s play, Still Life with Iris. This production is the culmination of a three-week acting workshop for 11 – 16 year olds, with 20 young actors performing and 7 young visual artists creating the scenery. Still Life with Iris will be presented at The Loft Theatre on Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. To purchase tickets, please call Marilyn Klaben at (937) 461-3823, extension 3132.

Still Life with Iris is the first play for young audiences to receive the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays Award. It is a fantastical adventure about a little girl’s search for the simplest of things: home. Iris lives with her mom in the land of Nocturno—a magical place in which the workers make, by night, all of the things we see in the world by day. Also, in Nocturno, memories do not reside in people’s minds but instead are kept in their coats (called “Past Coats”). The rulers of Nocturno, the Great Goods, are determined to have the “best” of everything on their island—and therefore take Iris away from her home and bring her to Great Island to be their daughter. To ease the pain of this separation, they remove her Past Coat, leaving her with no memory of her home or her family. All that remains of Iris’s past is a single button from her coat. Using the button as a clue, Iris joins with friends she meets on her journey—Annabel Lee (a young woman from the sea) and Mozart (the composer, age 11)—and frees herself from the Great Goods. She returns to Nocturno, having found her past, and her home. The running time is approximately 100 minutes. It is appropriate for children ages 6 and up.The 7 young visual artists for Still Life with Iris have been learning skills in technical theatre while helping to create the world of Nocturno with the aid of instructor Scott Gibbs and assistant Tristan Cupp. Directors Marilyn Klaben and Scott Stoney have been guiding the 20 young actors through this challenging full-length production. Marilyn Klaben has her BA in Theatre from Miami University and a MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. This is Marilyn’s eighth year as summer stock director. She is the Education Director at The Human Race, and teaches many theatre workshops in the Dayton area for teachers and for students connecting curriculum with drama skills. Scott Stoney is a resident actor and founding member of The Human Race. Last fall, Scott adapted and directed a touring production of Animal Farm for the Muse Machine/The Human Race Theatre Company In-School “Theatre in Context” program. This year his onstage appearances included Was, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, The Retreat from Moscow and Green Gables. Youth Summer Stock 2005 is sponsored by Ted and Sandy Tozer, with additional support from McCallisters Art Supplies.

PRODUCTION STAFF:
Directors: Marilyn Klaben and Scott Stoney
Intern from Dennison University: Kehler Relick
Visual Arts Director: Scott Gibbs with support from Marsha Pippenger
Assistant in Visual Arts: Tristan Cupp
Technical Director: Tim Kaspar
Set Designer: Scott J. Kimmins
Costume Design/Construction: Mary Beth McLaughlin
Lighting & Sound Designer: Will Haas
Props: Lisa Sadai
Music selection: Scott Stoney

THE CAST: Caroline Clarke (Iris), Susanne Schott (Mom/ Miss Overlook), Karly Zengel (Hazel), Michael Light (Elmer), A.T. Farrell (Man/Mr. Matternot/Dad), Brittani Fader (Leaf Monitor), Alex Hoskins (Flower Painter), Charles Logan (Bolt Bender/ Mr. Himtoo), Francois Sutton (Thunder Bottler One), Erika Perry (Thunder Bottler Two), James Mingus (Memory Mender), Dylan Aughe (Rainmaker/Mr. Otherguy), Jordan Philpott (Miss Whichone/Nocturno worker), Mary Kate O'Neill (Her most excellent Gretta Good), Tyler Benedict (His most excellent Grotto Good), Nathan Benedict (Mozart), Hilary Paisley (Annabel Lee), Jennifer Rittenhouse (Captain Also/Nocturno worker), Jessica Phillips (Third String/Nocturno worker), Alex Dickerson (Ray/Nocturno worker).

"BEHIND THE SCENES” VISUAL ARTISTS: Daniel Dickerson, Chris Peschel, Sydney Davis, Kendra Battin, Hannah Sparks, Blake Stevens, Marie Rehg.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:
Still Life with Iris by Steven Dietz
Presented by The Human Race Theatre Company’s Youth Summer Stock 2005
Saturday, July 16, 2005 at 2:00 pm
The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main Street, downtown Dayton
Ticket prices: $7 adults, $5 students

For tickets, call: Marilyn Klaben at (937) 461-3823, x3132 The Human Race Theatre Company receives organizational support from Culture Works, Montgomery County and The Shubert Foundation. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Human Race Theatre Company with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at The Loft, a 219-seat theatre. In addition to the Humana Loft Series 1, produced in collaboration with the Victoria Theatre Association, The Human Race produces the Humana Loft Series 2, 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 educational outreach programs for children six to eighteen, guest artist and artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock and The Human Race Conservatory.