(Dayton, OH) – September 6, 2005 – We all know one – the annoying houseguest who can’t take a hint when it’s time to leave. Just such an annoyance invades The Loft Theatre this month – with hilarious results – when Victoria Theatre Association and The Human Race Theatre Company present the farcical comedy The Nerd, September 15 – October 2. The production opens the 2005-2006 Humana Loft Series 1.

In The Nerd, aspiring young architect Willum Cuthbert learns a comic lesson about how a houseguest from hell can disrupt one’s life. As his 34th birthday approaches, Willum finally feels like he has it all - a promising career, devoted friends, and a potentially serious girlfriend. Then Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI who saved Willum’s life in Vietnam, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep.

Willum is initially grateful to finally meet the man who saved him, but two things quickly become apparent. First of all, Rick is a hopeless nerd – a bumbling oaf with little intelligence, even less tact and absolutely no social grace whatsoever. Secondly, Rick has no life and no intention of leaving his new-found “friend” anytime soon!

From agonizingly detailed descriptions of his job inspecting chalk to dinner party games involving dirty socks, paper bags and cottage cheese, Rick very quickly wears out his welcome. Even hints delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer can’t get the message through to Rick that it’s time for him to GO!

As Rick stays on … and on … his unwelcome presence leads to one uproarious incident after another, and the life Willum has worked so hard to build quickly begins to unravel. Willum and his friends are ultimately forced to “out-nerd” the king of the nerds in a desperate attempt to regain their lives and keep their sanity!

The Nerd’s creator, playwright and actor Larry Shue, is best known for this comedy and The Foreigner, both of which have played on Broadway and in regional theatres worldwide. Each was written and first performed while Shue was playwright-in-residence at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The Nerd was Shue’s first full-length play and premiered there in 1981. It ultimately found its way to London’s West End in 1984, with Rowan Atkinson as the nerdish Rick Steadman, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Shue’s promising writing career was cut short, however, when he was killed in a commuter plane crash in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

The Humana Loft Series 1 production of The Nerd is directed by Shaunn Baker, who previously directed Dirty Blonde during the 2002-2003 season. It stars Chris Petschler as Willum Cuthbert and Ryan Hecht as Rick Steadman, both in their debuts with The Human Race Theatre Company.

The production also features Human Race founding member and Resident Artist Michael Kenwood Lippert as Waldgrave, along with Human Race veteran Natasha Randall as Tansy and Human Race Artistic Intern Aaron Vega as Axel. Making their first appearances with The Human Race are Jennifer Capri as Clelia and Jeremy Cleary as Thor.

Behind the scenes, Dick Block is scenic designer, Mary Beth McLaughlin is costume designer, John Rensel is lighting designer and Charlie Parker is sound designer. Elizabeth Grunenwald is the production stage manager.

The Nerd is presented with support from Jokers Comedy Cafe and Pinnacle Architects. Media Sponsor for the Humana Loft Series is WYSO Public Radio/91.3 FM. The Official Host for the Humana Loft Series is DoubleTree Hotel.

The Nerd is on stage at The Loft Theatre September 15 – October 2. Performance times are Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. (Please Note: This is a new curtain for the 2005-2006 season), Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Saturday, September 24, performance may be sign interpreted and/or audio described upon request with two weeks advance notice to Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630. Immediately following the Sunday, September 25 matinee, The Human Race will hold its “While We’re on the Subject” post-show discussion.

Tickets are just $29 each, and discounts are available for senior citizens, students and groups. Tickets are on sale now via Ticket Center Stage, with box office locations at the Victoria Theatre and Schuster Center in downtown Dayton. To order tickets by phone, call (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, noon - 4 p.m. The Loft Theatre box office opens two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association and the Humana Loft Series 1, visit www.victoriatheatre.com. To learn more about The Human Race Theatre Company, visit www.humanracetheatre.org.

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Victoria Theatre Association is one of Dayton’s premier arts organizations, presenting a variety of life-celebrating performances. In addition to the immensely popular Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series, Victoria Theatre Association offers the Bank One Young at Heart Family Series; the Michelob Ultra Cool Films series; Star Attractions; and the Discovery series, curriculum-enhanced live theatre productions for school children. Victoria Theatre Association is proud of its alliances with the Dayton Opera Association and the Arts Center Foundation and its collaboration on the Humana Loft Series 1 with The Human Race Theatre Company. Victoria Theatre Association receives funding from a variety of diverse public, corporate, individual and private sources, including the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program or organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

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 Humana Loft Series 1, produced in collaboration with 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 education outreach programs for children six to 16, guest artist and 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 program or organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.