Human Race Announces Two Executive Position Adjustments

The Board of Trustees of The Human Race Theatre, Dayton's professional performing theatre company, today made two executive position adjustments. The changes were necessitated by the death of long-time HRTC Artistic Director Marsha Hanna on January 3.

Kevin Moore, who has been Executive Director for the Human Race since its inception in 1986, was named to the newly created position of Producing Artistic Director. That essentially molds his and Hanna's positions into one.

General Manager Tara Lail, who had joined The Human Race as Company Manager in 2005, was named Managing Director. She will add producing and working directly with the Board to her current duties.

"We had been talking for some time about succession plans, and action became imminent with Marsha's health issues" said Board President Beth Schaeffer. "Kevin had already assumed greater responsibilities, and Tara as well has been filling the gaps. Now we have a model more in the tradition of other theatres, which generally have a single producing director."

Lail, a Yellow Springs resident, had previous producing experience as the Artistic Director and Production Stage Manager for Blue Jacket from 1999 to 2005. "She has proven herself very capable," said Schaeffer.

Schaeffer stressed that it will never be possible to completely replace Hanna and all she meant to The Human Race, but said the transition has been very smooth and efficient, "and we will continue to deliver the same high quality product."

The Human Race's first production since 1990 without Hanna as Artistic Director will be Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which runs at The Loft Theatre January 27 - February 13.

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