February 27 – March 15, 2020
Written by: Emily Mann
Directed by:
Marya Spring Cordes
Fifty years after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice and advocating for others, her vision is as urgent today as ever. Described simply as "History. Her Story. Our Story," this richly detailed tapestry is both inspiring and remarkable. Gloria believes in the necessity of conversation as a catalyst for change, and this new play offers us all a path forward in a way that only live theater can provide. We celebrate this award-winning journalist, social political activist, and nationally-recognized leader of the American feminist movement and Toledo, Ohio native.
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes - No Intermission
This show is rated: PG 15
Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under the age of 15.
Sponsors
Larry Glickler, Glickler Funeral Home
Marni Flagel
The Hope-Aholics
Alice & Burt Saidel
R. Doug Annala
Cast
Jennifer Johansen* - Gloria Steinem
JENNIFER JOHANSEN (Gloria) returns for her eighth production at the Race and is elated to be a part of the Women of Influence season. A few HRTC favorites include: SEX WITH STRANGERS, VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, and GOD OF CARNAGE. At home in Indianapolis, Jen has appeared in numerous shows at the Phoenix Theatre, including: THE CHRISTIANS, HIR, ON CLOVER ROAD, and the World Premier of Tom Horan’s THE PILL, and in over twenty productions at the Indiana Repertory Theatre where highlights include: THE SYRINGA TREE, THE GAME'S AFOOT, MACBETH, JULIUS CAESAR, HOLMES AND WATSON, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. She has also performed with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Kitchen Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Jen is proud to both be a new member of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, with whom she has performed in CORIOLANUS and HAMLET, and to serve on the board of a new company, American Lives Theatre. Much gratitude and love to Tara, Kevin, Marya and this team of warriors, and to my husband Rob and my family. Most humble gratitude to Gloria Steinem and the countless individuals who have lit the fires so that we might continue to fan them and poke more light into the darkness. Thank you for supporting The Human Race.
Burgess Byrd*
BURGESS BYRD (Woman 2) is delighted to be back at Human Race! Previously she was seen here in HIGHER GROUND in the 2000-2001 season under the direction of Sheila Ramsey and Artistic Director Marsha Hanna. Recently, she was seen at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati's THE FROG PRINCESS (Madame Tsar), SKELETON CREW (Faye Davison), DETROIT '67 (Bunny), RED VELVET (Connie), THIS RANDOM WORLD (Bernadette). In 2018, she was a Guest Artist at University of Texas at Austin in an updated production of THE MERCHANT OF VENUS (Shylock). Some of her favorite roles have been in RAISIN IN THE SUN(Lena Younger), GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (Tilly) at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; DOUBT (Mrs. Muller) at Glenmore Playhouse; AVENUE Q (Gary Coleman) at The Carnegie Center; STEEL MAGNOLIAS (Clairee Belcher) at Covedale Theatre; HARRY AND THE THIEF (Shiloh) and PRETTY FIRE (Charlayne Woodward) at Know Theatre Cincinnati. Many thanks to Tara Lail, Kevin Moore and Marya Cordes for the opportunity to play with these strong, passionate and fierce ladies!
Eileen Earnest
EILEEN EARNEST (Woman 6) Eileen is an actress/improviser based in Cincinnati OH. Improv/Sketch Troupes: Two Sketchy Dames, OTRimprov, ComedySportz Cincinnati, and Dinner Detective. Recent Performance credits: 39 STEPS (Clown 2), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Marley/Past/Present/Future), HOCUS POCUS (Mary Sanderson), GOLDEN GIRLS MURDER MYSTERY (Rose Nylund), and MERCURY (Olive). Previous Human Race Theatre credit: LAZZI-FAIRE Commedia School Tour (Isabella/Eileen). She sends this much and more to DSKR and thanks you for supporting live theater. She is also standing riiiight behind you. Send a hello at eileen-earnest.com
Sherman Fracher*
SHERMAN FRACHER (Woman 3) is delighted to return to The Human Race Theatre Company. Most recently, HRTC audiences saw her as Sonia in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Earlier shows with HRTC include OTHER DESERT CITIES, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS and THREE DAYS OF RAIN. More recently, she played Martha in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Athens West Theatre company, and Isabelle Arc in the MOTHER OF THE MAID at Marin Theatre Company. Sherman was a long-time Resident Artist with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and has appeared in many productions there including HAMLET, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE SEAGULL, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Other theatres include Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, and Georgia Shakespeare. Sherman makes her home in central Kentucky, where she lives with her husband, Director/Actor/Fight Choreographer Drew Fracher.
Andréa Morales
ANDRÉA MORALES (Woman 4) is delighted to return to The Human Race! Prior HRTC credits include THE FULL MONTY and HAIL MARY! Recent shows include NATIVE GARDENS (Tania), ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE (Louise), THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Judy), and AIRLINE HIGHWAY(Francis). Select regional credits include IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – THE RADIO PLAY (American Theatre Company), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Harbor County Theatre Festival), and A CHORUS LINE (NightBlue Theatre). Andréa has performed with Southwest Shakespeare, Sedona Shakespeare, Richmond Shakespeare Festival, Adventure Stage Chicago, and Geffen Playhouse. World premieres include NOT YOUR GENERIC LATINA (Teatro Luna), THE TOYMAKER’S WAR (Alcyone Festival), and THE SUN SERPENT(Childsplay). She is an Artistic Associate of Magnolia Theatre Company, seen in PARALLEL LIVES and GIDION’S KNOT (Daytony- Best Actress). Andréa is a Company Member for Childsplay, Arizona. İMi familia es mi vida! Visit ms-andreamorales.com
Aurea Tomeski*
AUREA TOMESKI (Woman 1) is originally from South Florida, and is a New York based actor, producer, and teaching artist. Recent New York credits: THE WHITE DRESS (CIA Productions), DIRTY JULY (Monsterpiece Theatre Collective), LAMIA (NY Fringe), THE IMPROBABLE FALL, RISE, & FALL OF JOHN LAW (Dreamscape Theatre), DEAD SPECIAL CRABS (Wide Eyed Productions), TAPEFACES (Ars Nova). Favorite regional credits: THE GIVER (National Tour), SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), JULIUS CAESAR (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), MACBETH (California Shakespeare Company), OLIVER TWIST (A Noise Within). Additionally, she has worked with New York Shakespeare Exchange, New York Stage and Film, The Lark, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. She has appeared in numerous national commercials, web-series, and independent films. As a producer, Aurea is passionate about bringing original, socially-conscious work to the forefront. MFA from The New School. Proud member of Actors' Equity. Find out more at www.aureatomeski.com. Instagram: @TheAureaT
Rae Buchanan
Rae Buchanan (Woman 5) is thrilled to make her Human Race debut! Rae holds an MFA in Acting (Purdue University) and BA in Musical Theatre (Weber State University). She has performed both regionally and internationally, including a German/English production of FAUST (Gretchen) and is a resident artist with The Playground Theatre (Jewels, STAINED GLASS; Dawn, THE LIBRARY; Jenny, ASSISTANCE; Anna, FEAST; Amy, TAPE, Jessica;THIS IS OUR YOUTH). Currently, Rae can be seen performing in the Know Theatre’s original touring shows (Alice, ALICE IN NEVERLAND; Meetra, DRAGON UP) and as a healthcare clown at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Rae also shares her passion for the arts as an educator, holding original workshops and partnering with institutions such as Interlochen Center for the Arts, Urbana University and Franklin University. For more information, please visit RaeBuchananActor.com
Production Team
Emily Mann, Playwright
Multi-award-winning Director and Playwright Emily Mann is the Artistic Director and Resident Playwright of the Tony Award winning McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey. Her plays include: HAVING OUR SAY, adapted from the book by Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth (Hull-Warriner Award, Peabody Award, Christopher Award; Tony awards, Outer Critics, Drama Desk award nominations); EXECUTION OF JUSTICE (Bay Area Theatre Critics Award, Playwriting Award from the Women’s Committee of the Dramatists Guild, Burns Mantle Yearbook Best Play Citation, Drama Desk nomination); STILL LIFE (six Obie Awards); ANNULLA, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY; GREENSBORO (A REQUIEM); an adaptation of I.B. Singer’s novel MESHUGAH; and MRS. PACKARD (Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays). Adaptations: SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (Drama League Award nomination), UNCLE VANYA, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, A SEAGULL IN THE HAMPTONS, THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, BABY DOLL, and ANTIGONE. She was awarded a Princeton University Honorary Doctorate of Arts, a 2015 Helen Merrill Distinguished Playwrights' Award, and a 2015 Margo Jones Award given to a "citizen-of-the-theatre who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the encouragement of the living theatre everywhere.”
Marya Spring Cordes, Director
MARYA SPRING CORDES (Director) 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 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 was recently elected Co-chair of the Executive Board of Alexander Technique International. Marya is a proud Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company.
Tamara L. Honesty, Scenic Design
TAMARA L. HONESTY (Scenic Designer) is delighted to return to The Human Race Theatre! A few of her favorite designs at HRTC include BANNED FROM BASEBALL, FAMILY TIES, CROWNS, OTHER DESERT CITIES, BECKY’S NEW CAR, LOMBARDI, and MANAGING MAXINE. She also enjoys designing theatre for young audiences, having designed ten shows for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Educational Touring Company. Her designs have been on stages from New York City to the Midwest and as far south as Florida. Recently, the book she co-authored, THE FAKE FOOD COOKBOOK, was published. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at Kent State University. Check out her website at www.edwardlaynedesigns.com
Ayn Kaethchen, Costume Design
AYN KAETHCHEN (Costume Designer) is a Museum Educator at the Dayton Art Institute. When not designing costumes for local theaters including The Human Race Theatre Company or for local residents, she plies her trade as an accomplished singer-songwriter, jazz vocalist and local artisan on the Dayton, Ohio scene. She is the former Company Manager for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and was also the Lead Teaching Artist for a local puppet company. She has also taught art and fashion at the Rosewood Arts Centre and K-12 Gallery as well as for community groups and at local schools. All work is dedicated to her beloved spawn: Z, Jay and Leo, and her person, Swann.
John Rensel, Lighting Design
JOHN RENSEL (Lighting Designer) is the long-term Resident Lighting Designer for The Human Race Theatre Company, Muse Machine, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Pops series and Dayton Opera Association. 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 national credits included 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 Theatre Company’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. John likes cheese and pretzels as a late night snack.
Jay Brunner, Sound Design
JAY BRUNNER (Sound Designer) 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.
Jacquelyn Duncan*, Stage Manager
JACQUELYN DUNCAN (Stage Manager) is delighted to be Stage Managing Gloria: A Life in her fourth season with HRTC! Jacquelyn received her BFA in Theatre Design and 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, she was promoted to Production Stage Manager in Spring 2018 during Brighton Beach Memoirs. Jacquelyn is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and encourages you all to follow us on social media! “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” -Gloria Steinem
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
+Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company.