Shaunn Baker
Video Production
For 30 years, Shaunn has worked on hundreds of projects, from professional theatre to television and feature films. He has directed for The Human Race Theatre Company, directed and assistant directed several short and feature film projects, taught cinematography at The University of Cincinnati, and teaches classes on acting for the camera. Currently, he is Managing Partner of WorldStage Media, an award-winning commercial media and entertainment production company located in Dayton, Ohio, and their latest short film HIM/HER will be hitting festivals later this year. Shaun misses the live theatre terribly but is thrilled to be working with The Human Race on Now and Then. He hopes this virtual production will tide-over other theatre lovers, and looks forward to the day when we can once again meet up and tell our stories in person.
Jay Brunner
Sound Designer
Jay^ has designed sound, music directed, performed, and composed music for countless theatrical events, and is proud to call The Human Race his artistic home. He has composed music and recorded audio projects for many musical groups, voiceovers, regional commercials, radio spots, training videos, collegiate theatre projects, marching bands, clubs, and organizations. Jay owns and operates a professional recording studio (Audio Forest) with his wife, fellow HRTC Resident Artist Christine
Brunner.
Alexander Capeneka
Scenic Design Elements
Alexander is a designer from Detroit, MI. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2019 with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and a minor in Theatre Technology and Design. He has previously scenic designed Newsies: The Musical (Little Theatre on the Square), Hayavadana (ONU), Love’s Fire: One-Act Plays Inspired by Shakespeare’s Sonnets (ONU), and served as assistant scenic designer on Romeo and Juliet (ONU) and The Pirates of Penzance (ONU). He has designed and operated projections for multiple LTOTS and ONU productions. He has also appeared in multiple ONU productions including the role of Prior in Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches directed by HRTC’s Kappy Kilburn.
Marya Spring Cordes
Director
Marya^ has a career that is a blissful blend of performing, directing and teaching other theatre artists. She is Associate Professor and serves as Head of Acting in Wright State University’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures. At The Human Race Theatre Company, directing credits include Gloria: A Life, Sylvia, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Managing Maxine and Becky’s New Car. At WSU, most recent productions include The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Simon Stephens. Marya has been seen in recent years onstage regionally in Dayton with The Human Race Theatre in Americana Christmas, and Dayton Philharmonic/Human Race Theatre Company’s Best of Broadway I & II at the Schuster Center. In Columbus with Short North Stage, she walked in the shoes of Desiree in A Little Night Music. She is an active member of Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and serves as Co-chair of the Executive Board of Alexander Technique International. Marya is a proud Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company.
Jacquelyn Duncan
Production Stage Manager
Jacquelyn* is delighted to begin her fifth season with HRTC! Jacquelyn received her BFA in Theatre Design & Technology with an emphasis in Stage Management from Wright State University. During her collegiate years, Jacquelyn had the pleasure of working for Adam Pascal, Jason Robert Brown, and Tom Hanks. Her first show with HRTC was Hail Mary! back in October 2016. After nine consecutive shows as the Production Assistant, Jacquelyn was promoted to Production Stage Manager in Spring 2018 during Brighton Beach Memoirs. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and encourages you all to follow us on social media!
Janet G. Powell
Costume Designer
Janet is excited to be returning to HRTC to costume Now and Then. She has costumed several shows for The Human Race Theatre and will return later this season to costume The Revolutionists. She has also costumed joint productions for CCM and The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Dayton Playhouse, Beavercreek Community Theatre, Memorial Hall in Cincinnati, the original independent production of Soldier Christmas presented at NKU, Town Hall Theatre, and Yellow Brick Theatre. She was an artistic director/teacher for Norwood City Schools where she designed, directed, and costumed shows for 37 years. She continues to support theatre in schools, through volunteering, donations, and as an adjudicator with the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards. She wants to thank her husband and children for their years of support.
John Rensel
Resident Lighting Designer
John is the long-term Resident Lighting Designer for The Human Race Theatre Company, Muse Machine, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Pops series, and the Dayton Opera Association. He also serves as the long-time Technical Director for the Fraze Pavilion and has provided advanced technical 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 national credits include a lighting design package for a National Touring Production of the Elton John/Tim Rice collaboration Aida. Some of his most recent local credits include all the designs for The Human Race’s season at the Loft Theatre; Muse Machine’s productions at the Victoria Theatre and the Dayton Opera Association’s season at the Schuster Center. At 70, John just had his tonsils removed. Ouch!
^ Resident Artist with The Human Race Theatre Company
* Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
° Equity Membership Candidate